Thomas C. Daley, Sr.

Loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend

Thomas (Tom) Daley, 92, most recently of Marshfield and Duxbury, passed away surrounded by family on April 10, 2024 after a period of declining health.  He was born on June 1, 1931 in Lowell, Massachusetts, a son of the late Thomas A. Daley and Alice (Slattery) Daley Chase.   Tom was predeceased by his wife Rita in 2019, after sharing over 64 years of marriage.

Tom joined the United States Navy as a young adult, serving as an aviation mechanic on the Midway during the Korean Conflict.  On a fateful Memorial Day weekend at Hampton Beach, Tom met his future wife, Rita.   They married on Memorial Day in 1955.  Over the years, Tom and Rita raised their family, living in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Nashua, New Hampshire and Kennebunkport, Maine.  These were times of love and laughter, with a wealth of family memories created.

Tom's professional career centered on materials testing and science.  He was particularly proud of his work on NASA's Project Apollo space program during his time at Avco Corporation.  His work contributed to ensuring that the heat shield for the space capsule could withstand extreme temperatures upon re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.  Success on this front was critical to ensuring safe return of the astronauts after their missions to explore and ultimately land on the Moon.  Tom continued his materials science career at Instron Corporation and Textron, working on various other rocket re-entry systems and the early adoption of carbon fiber-based rocket nozzles and nose tips before his retirement.

Tom earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Suffolk University in Boston.  He always impressed on his children the importance of education as they grew up, with all four graduating from college.

Since 1999, Tom and Rita lived on the South Shore, in Duxbury and Marshfield, because of their commitment to be close to their grandchildren as they grew up.  Watching his grandchildren develop into the incredible people that they have become has been an unending source of joy for Tom.

In addition to his wife Rita, Tom is predeceased by his son, Jeffrey, his daughters-in-law, Deborah Burge Daley and Penelope Stohn Brouwer, his brothers Robert Daley and David Chase, his sisters-in-law, Henrietta Violette and Corinne Lafond, and brother in-law Robert Lafond.   Tom is survived by his son Thomas, Jr., his daughters Paula Daley, Karen Daley, and Michelle Archambault and her husband Robert Archambault.  He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Kyle Archambault and his wife Tammie, Keely Archambault and her fiancé Andrew Melton, and Sadie Archambault.  Survivors also include step-grandchildren Julianna, Kristin and Alex Brouwer, his sister-in-law Sally Daley, brother Robert "Richie" Chase and his wife Angela, many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and dear friends from his career at Avco, Instron and Textron.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's memory may be made to the Animal Rescue League, online at: https://www.arlboston.org/ or Homes for our Troops, online at: https://www.hfotusa.org/ Both support causes that were important to Tom during his life.

Arrangements are being handled by MacDonald Funeral Home in Marshfield, Massachusetts.  Tom will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife at Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury, Massachusetts.  Tom's family will hold a private graveside service and celebration of life with family and close friends in June.