1937 - 2026
Born on July 3, 1937, in Fall River, Thomas was the son of the late Jeremiah P. and Jane (Regan) Kehoe. He was a graduate of Durfee Technical High School in Fall River.
Thomas proudly served in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During his service in the early 1960s, he was involved in missile development and testing, and his team participated in one of the first rocket launches in Florida—work that contributed to the early foundations of what would become NASA.
Following his military service, Thomas built a successful career as an engineer, working for 30 years with Sylvania GTE and General Dynamics in Waltham, Needham, and Westborough before retiring in 1994.
He found great enjoyment in spending time with his longtime friends from the Vassar Drive neighborhood and created many happy memories during his time in Florida. Thomas loved traveling, especially cruising with his wife and friends, and fondly remembered his trip to Hawaii. He enjoyed listening to soft jazz and was a dedicated fan of the New England Patriots. In recent years, he took great pride in organizing and cataloging family photos on his laptop.
Above all, Thomas treasured time spent with his family. He especially loved watching and engaging with his grandchildren and later his great-grandchildren, who always brought him immense joy and the brightest smiles.
In addition to his wife, Maureen, he is survived by his three sons: Michael Kehoe and his wife Julie (Burgey) of Uxbridge; Stephen Kehoe and his wife Deborah (Poirier) of Milford; and David Kehoe and his wife Gina (Kelly) of Walpole. He is also survived by his brother William Kehoe and his wife Irene of Bristol, Rhode Island; his six grandchildren, John, Christopher, Evan, and Nicholas Kehoe, April Kelly-Oster, and Amanda Khatib and her husband Mohamed; and his four great-grandchildren, Lillian, William, and Maxwell Oster, and Desmond Khatib. He also leaves behind several nieces, great-nieces, and nephews.
Thomas was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Patricia Ponte; his brother-in-law Edward Ponte; and his nephew Edward “Ted” Ponte Jr.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Buma-Sargeant Funeral Home, 42 Congress Street, Milford, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 AM in the funeral home.
Burial will take place at a later date at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fall River.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17 in Chicago, the American Heart Association at 7272 Greenville Avenue in Dallas, or to a charity of one’s choosing.
