Thomas Patrick Hogan, Sr.
Beloved father, uncle, cousin, and friend;
Thomas Patrick Hogan, Sr. of Lowell Mass, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his family on January 4, 2024. He was 99 years old and only 13 days away from his 100th birthday when he passed.
For 68 years he was the loving husband of Teresa K (Hayes) Hogan who passed away in 2019.
Thomas was born on January 17, 1924, the eldest son of Timothy and Katherine Hogan. His parents were among the many that came to this country from Ireland in the early 1900s. Thomas was a member of the Keith Academy class of 1940.
Thomas had a love of planes from a very early age – and when Pearl Harbor was attacked, he set his sights on joining the Army Air Corps. He succeeded and was a tail gunner on a B-29, stationed in Guam as a Staff Sergeant. He was with his crew for 6 months, but over that time forged friendships that lasted a lifetime.
After the war, Thomas enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a degree in Economics. He then went on to study at Boston College where he received his Master’s Degree. He was studying at Syracuse University when he became engaged to Teresa Hayes, of Lowell, MA. They were married in 1950 and spent the next couple of years in Syracuse and Pittsburgh.
In 1953 they returned to Massachusetts where he began his long career as a Professor of Economics and Dean of the Social Sciences at Merrimack College in North Andover. In addition to teaching and administration, Thomas was also very active in the governance of the college. He drafted the college’s first Faculty Senate constitution, as well as the constitution for the local chapter of the AAUP, the American Association of University Professors. When he retired in 1988, the chapter established the Thomas P. Hogan Award for Excellence in Collegial Governance. This award is bestowed to members of the Merrimack faculty who have demonstrated his same commitment to academic excellence.
Thomas had a zest for life and lived it to his fullest for 99 years. He loved to travel; he and Teresa spent many happy days in their motor home, visiting countless national parks, colleges, sporting venues, libraries, museums, airfields, and the like. In the 1970s he started hiking and it was the beginning of a passion that he enjoyed for decades. It took a few years, but he hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and was the second member of the Appalachian Mountain Club to hike the 100 highest peaks in New England, in both the regular season as well as the winter. He was a true renaissance man, a forever learner, a voracious reader and spent hours studying and discussing far ranging topics, including history, politics, weather, sports and, most recently, Artificial Intelligence, as well any other subject that piqued his interest.
A lifelong fan of Notre Dame football, he not only knew the current roster, but could tell you years out who their top recruits were for the upcoming seasons. He made many a trip to South Bend to see his beloved Fightin’ Irish play and could recall details of games as early back as the 1930s!
Thomas is survived by his daughter, Maureen Hogan and her husband, Andy Riebs, of York, Maine, his daughter Ann Hogan, of Lowell and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
He was predeceased by, his sons, Thomas Patrick Hogan Jr and Joseph Edwin Hogan, his sisters, Sister Timothy Marie Hogan, SC and Katherine Edwards and his brothers Joseph Hogan and William Hogan.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL, MA on Thursday, January 11, 2024, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. His Funeral Mass will follow on Friday, January 12, 2024, at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH 144 EAST MERRIMACK ST in LOWELL, MA at 11:00 a.m. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Contributions in his memory to the Appalachian Mountain Club, Attn: Worcester Chapter, The German Home, 374 Howard St, Lawrence, MA, 01841, or a charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.
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