Obituary of William A. Toomey

William A. Toomey, 84, of Peabody, a longtime member of the Peabody City Council, died unexpectedly on Sunday July 23, 2017 at the Lahey Clinic North. He was the husband of Elizabeth “Betsy” (Jersyk) Toomey with whom he shared 55 years of marriage. Bill was born in Salem, MA on July 28, 1932, the son of the late George L. and Helen (Kehoe) Toomey and had resided in Peabody most of his life. He was a veteran of the US Army serving in the Korean War. Upon his discharge in 1954. He entered Merrimack College where his received a bachelor’s degree. He was first employed at the General Electric Co., Lynn and later at the GTE/Sylvania Co where he was a purchasing agent in the Needham plant for 20 years prior to his retirement 25 years ago. Bill was very active in political and civic organizations in Peabody serving on the Peabody City Council for 26 years. He also was a member and current president of the Friends of the Peabody Council on Aging, and was a vice- chairman of the Peabody Council on Aging. He enjoyed being the host of the Senior Corner that showed on Peabody Cable TV. He drove a bus for many years for the Catherine’s Day Care Center, Peabody and on Sundays he was a vendor for 15 years at the Todd Farm Flea Market in Rowley. Bill had been a member of the A.O.H. division 11 of Peabody, the Leo Council Knights of Columbus and the Portuguese American War Veterans Post 1, of Peabody. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a son and daughter-in-law, William A. and Barbara Toomey of Sandy Hook, CT., a daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Toomey Manning and Michael Manning of Byfield, MA, his grandchildren, Sierra and Kai Toomey of Ct. and Jameson and Finnegan Manning of Byfield, and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Leo Toomey. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 27, from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. His Funeral will be held on Friday at 9:00 AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody/Salem line Rt. 114 at 10 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Friends of the Peabody Council on Aging, 75 Central St., Peabody MA 01960 in his memory. For directions and guestbook, visit www.ccbfuneral.com.