By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Hudson – Hudson residents displayed their support immediately upon learning about the death of State Trooper Thomas L. Clardy, 44, who lived in town with his wife Reisa, and their six children, ages 4 to 17. His obituary stated, “In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Trooper Clardy may be made to the Clardy Children’s Fund, c/o Avidia Bank, 42 Main St., Hudson, MA 01749.”
The fund was established by troopers of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Employee Assistance Unit on behalf of the family. The unit is a peer-to-peer support network that assists fellow law enforcement members and their families in times of need. Among the unit’s eight members is Trooper Lynne Mulkerrin.
“Tom was a hardworking man, trying to provide for his kids,” she said. “He and Reisa chose Hudson to build a home, raise their family and become part of the community. People want to help out in times like this. They realize how expensive it is to raise a family nowadays.”
Clardy was killed in the line of duty March 16 while conducting a traffic stop on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton. A speeding car struck his SUV in the breakdown lane. At the time of his death, Clardy was working a special patrol to prevent traffic crashes.
The following afternoon, a police procession escorted his body from the medical examiner’s office in Boston. Fire trucks were stationed on overpasses of I-495 with officers saluting the motorcade on its way to Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home on Central Street in Hudson, where his family waited.
Outside the funeral home, residents tied American flags with blue ribbons to poles, which has become a common sight around town. That symbolic gesture paying respect to the fallen trooper, and Army and Marine Corps veteran was appreciated by visiting law enforcement officers, Mulkerrin noted.
“It was very touching,” she said. “It really helps to have a community that cares so much. The family will need that in the days, weeks and months to come.”
Family, friends, colleagues and townspeople gathered March 22 at St. Michael’s Church for his funeral service. Thousands of law enforcement officers attended to give Clardy a final salute. Offering a eulogy was Trooper Jamie Magarian, who has been assigned as MSP liaison to the Clardy family. Margarian was a MSP Academy classmate and colleague of Clardy at the Charlton barracks.
“It was an outpouring of support for somebody who not only served his country, but served the commonwealth and his community,” he said. “A smaller community feels a sense of grief because they saw him at the grocery store, pumping gas, and dropping his kids off at school or picking them up.”
Four of the Clardy children currently attend Hudson public schools.
“The Clardy Children’s Fund will be used to assist the family in all avenues of life and in higher education as the children grow,” Magarian explained. “The fund is also an assurance to those who want to give a donation to know that the monies are going to the proper place.”
According to a March 23 MSP media report, “The Massachusetts State Police is currently investigating a report of someone going door-to-door in Tewksbury claiming to be part of a police organization and fundraising for the children of Trooper Thomas Clardy.”
The report clarified that “the only two official funds” benefiting the family are the Clardy Children’s Fund at Avidia Bank and the Greg Hill Foundation, which accepts donations online at thegreghillfoundation.org.
“The community recognizes that Tom gave his life serving the public,” Magarian said. “The showing of support by the community in which he lived speaks volumes for the town of Hudson.”