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PEABODY — William A. Toomey, a former City Councilor and inspiration to many in the community, died at the age of 84 over the weekend.
“Mr. Toomey was a veteran, a family man, and a community leader,” said Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. “He cared deeply for Peabody and fought with passion for what he believed in. He left his mark in our community.”
City Council President Joel Saslaw said Toomey was a consummate gentleman and had a passion for the city of Peabody to the end.
“As someone who got into politics fairly recently, he was someone to look up to as someone who had a deep passion and really cared,” said Saslaw.
Toomey served on the Peabody City Council for 26 years, but his public service extended well beyond his time in the council chambers. 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. For many years, residents could also watch Toomey as the host of the Senior Corner show on Peabody Cable TV.
“Bill Toomey was an icon in the city of Peabody,” said Councilor-at-Large Anne Manning Martin. “He was a veteran, a public servant, and a community activist who always did what he thought was right. He never slowed down, smiled in disagreement, and was always a gentleman.”
Councilor-at-Large Tom Gould said Toomey will be missed as both an advocate for the city and as a neighbor.
“He lived a half-dozen houses away, so I’ve known him since I moved to the neighborhood 35 years ago,” said Gould. “He was not only a great advocate for the city as a leader in office, but also in his second phase of service as a strong advocate for the elderly.”
Toomey was born in Salem on July 28, 1932, the son of the late George L. and Helen (Kehoe) Toomey and 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 he earned a bachelor’s degree.
He was first employed at General Electric in Lynn and later at GTE/Sylvania, where he was a purchasing agent in the Needham plant for 20 years prior to his retirement 25 years ago.
Toomey is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a son and daughter-in-law, William A. and Barbara Toomey of Sandy Hook, Conn., a daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Toomey Manning and Michael Manning of Byfield, his grandchildren, Sierra and Kai Toomey of Connecticut and Jameson and Finnegan Manning of Byfield, and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Leo Toomey.
