Northborough – Thomas N. Kass Sr., born Nov. 10, 1957 in New London, Conn., died peacefully Saturday June 4, 2011. He was married to the love of his life and best friend, Jean Kelly Kass, and was the proud father of Thomas N. Kass Jr.
He leaves his parents, Patricia E. (Dyer) Kass and Donald F. Kass Sr. of Natick and Gray Gables; his sisters, Maria Grabowski of California, Carolynn Rogers of Bedford and Susan Wojewuczki (Matthew) of Indiana; his brothers, Donald F. Kass of New York and James P. Kass of Plymouth; and 17 nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He shared a special bond with his wife's family, including her mother, Patricia Kelly; her father, the late Donald Kelly; and her brothers, Brian Kelly of Hopkinton, Chris Kelly of Upton and Kevin Kelly of Upton.
Mr. Kass was a 1976 graduate of Natick High School and a member of the NHS 1974 Super Bowl championship team, which was honored in a ceremony this past May and inducted into the NHS Hall Fame. He was unable to attend, but he proudly displayed his certificate on his hospital wall. He continued his education, earning credentials in optics which started his long career at Raytheon Corporation, where he began by making precision lens for submarines and then becoming a computer technology professional.
Diagnosed with leukemia 26 years ago, Mr. Kass underwent a lifesaving bone marrow transplant. He used the power of positive thought, unrelenting humor and the support of his family and friends to overcome many health challenges that resulted from the treatment and would finally take his life too soon. He kept his healthy spirit and sense of humor until his very last moments.
Last May, Mr. & Mrs. Kass celebrated 26 wonderful years of marriage as though they were newlyweds. In fact, that was how they admirably lived each day of their marriage. He was most proud of his son, Tom, who was the focus of their lives and attention.
He yearned for summers at the Cape with friends and family and could be counted on to join in, whether it was clamming, a ball game or cooking at the grill for the annual 4th of July “Kass Bash” crowd. Though he lived in Northborough for the past 25 years and dearly loved the people and small town atmosphere, he always found his way back to Natick for the Thanksgiving Day football game or to take his dad for a haircut and hotdog at Casey's. He had many cherished lifelong friends with whom he shared many laughs even in the last week of his life.
Funeral services will be held Friday June 10, at 7:45 a.m., at the Duckett- J. S. Waterman & Sons Home of Memorial Tribute, 656 Boston Post Rd. (Route 20), Sudbury, followed at 9 a.m. by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bridget Church, 830 Worcester Rd., Framingham. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. The family will receive visitors at the Funeral Home Thursday June 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org.
