Thomas J. Cowan

Thomas J. Cowan, age 101, a longtime resident of Arlington, MA, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2024 at the Fairview Senior Living in Hudson, NH.  He was the husband of the late Margaret L. (Martucci) Cowan, with whom he shared 67 years of marriage, before her passing in 2014.

He was born in Boston on April 14, 1923, a son of the late George and Mary K. (Gleason) Cowan.  He was a graduate of High School in Boston and later received his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University. 

He was a veteran of World War II having enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served until his honorable discharge in 1946.  During his time in the service he was a member of the 132ndAnti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion and was stationed in Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.  He was the recipient of a Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon.

Prior to his retirement, Tom worked for 40 years as a Freight and Sales Manager for the New York Central Railroad.

He was an avid reader, enjoyed listening to music and taking his daily walks around Arlington and Cambridge. He also enjoyed watching Red Sox and Celtics games and he always looked forward to tax season.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Mark Theriault; a son and daughter-in-law, Edmund and Maria Cowan; six grandchildren, Duane Cowan, Scott Cowan, Channey Cowan, Christian Theriault and his wife Jackie, Adam Theriault and Jessica Cunniff Theriault and Desiree Corso and her husband Shane; nine great grandchildren, Jocelyn, Derek and Aiden Theriault, Kayla DiCicco, Adam “AJ” Theriault, Jr., Anthony Theriault, Dante, Luca and Lucia Corso; a sister, Margaret “Peggy” Stack; and many nieces and nephews.  He was also the brother of the late William and Freddy Cowan.

In accordance with his wishes, Funeral Services with Military Honors and burial will be held privately for his family at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington.  In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a donation in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or a Veterans organization of your choice.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas J. Cowan, please visit our floral store.