Thomas P. O'Rourke

Mr. Thomas P. O’Rourke, 90, a long time resident of Lowell, passed away peacefully with his family by his side at Lowell General Hospital on Saturday, July 9, 2011. He was predeceased by his dear and long time partner of nearly 40 years, Florence Mary Moran and his former wife Arlene M. (Davis) O’Rourke.
Born March 21, 1921 in Lowell, “Tommy” served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII and later returned home and settled down in Lowell where he became a well known fixture. He was extremely active in local and state politics and once ran for local office in the 1970s. He retired from the Lowell Housing Redevelopment Authority and often tended bar at many of Lowell’s most well known establishments. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Elks Lodge. Tommy was best known for his voracious appetite for news and politics, love of travel, card games and horse racing and always enjoyed a good debate.
Mr. O’Rourke is survived by his son Thomas “Salty” O’Rourke of Provincetown, MA and his three daughters, Sharon Davidson, Pamela and her husband Jack Callahan, and Maura Ryder of Lowell; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren including Shawn O’Rourke Sr. and his three children Shawn Jr., Kennady, and Karrington, Joy Davidson, Melissa Ryder and her two children Steven and Aaron, Robbie Davidson, Richard Ryder and his son Ayden, and Amanda Ryder and her two children Tiana and Isaiah. He also leaves behind two step-grandsons, John & Jen Callahan and Danny & Jill Callahan, and their children.
He also leaves members of the Moran family including Charles “Chuck” and his wife, Dianne Moran, Kathleen Mulhall, Eileen and her husband J. Michael Earle, and Joyce and her husband Arthur Lamb; four step grandchildren including Kelly and her husband Archie Wells, Keith Moran and his partner Melissa Perkins, Michaeleen and her husband James Crowell, and Kathleen Earle. He also leaves four step great-grandchildren.