Thomas M. Fleming Print E-mail

Thomas M. Fleming

accomplished artist
 
      Thomas Michael Fleming, 74, of Acton, died peacefully on Sunday, August 17th at Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence in Wayland with his loving family by his side. He was the beloved husband of Donna J. (Sullivan) (Burns) Fleming who survives him.
      Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, February 20, 1940, the son of the late James H. and the late Nora T. (Cahill) Fleming, he attended St, Patrick Grammar School and was a graduate of Keith Academy in the Class of 1957. He then went on to graduate from Boston Art School in 1961.
     While at Keith Academy, he was encouraged by his art teacher to join the school newspaper staff as an illustrator and cartoonist. From there, his love of art and design was kindled into a variety of endeavors. Upon graduation from art school, he became Art Director for a Boston film production company. He joined Westinghouse Broadcasting as their first Director of Creative Services for stations in Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and San Francisco.
     After working for additional TV groups, Washington Post Broadcasting and Metro Media Broadcasting, he became an independent producer for a number of clients, private corporations, government agencies and Public Broadcasting. He produced one of the first documentaries in the People’s Republic of China. Eventually, he set new directions designing and fabricating church furniture, alters, baptismal fonts, carved custom signage and painting wall murals for private homes and public areas.
    Tom’s first one man show was at the Whistler House Parker Gallery over 50 years ago and once again he showed a recent collection of 27 new works. His current works are of a personal nature inspired as a breast and pancreatic cancer patient since 2006.
    In addition to his wife Donna, Tom is survived by two daughters Julia Reade of Arlington, MA and Jennifer (Reade) Bliss and her husband Timothy of Merrimack, NH; three step-daughters Kathleen (Burns) Drowne and her husband Michael of Stamford, CT, Kara (Burns) Heller and her husband Gerald of Guilford, CT and Colleen (Burns) Harrison and her husband William of Round Rock, TX; He was the proud grandfather of 11 grandchildren Caitlin, Megan and Sam Bliss, Annie and Jack Drowne, Thomas, Robert and Elizabeth Heller and Sarah, Kyle and Kelly Harrison; also survived by his brother Francis J. Fleming and his wife Judith of Warren, NH.
    He was also brother of the late Mary Jo (Fleming) McSorley.
    Tom will be remembered by family and friends for his love of art and the enjoyment that his studio provided him with purpose and solace in his later years.
     In keeping in accordance with his wishes, there will be no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to attended his Memorial Mass to be celebrated on Saturday morning at ST. CATHERINE of ALEXANDRIA PARISH, 107 N. Main Street in Westford at 9 o’clock. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Parmenter Foundation, Inc., 400 Boston Post Road, Suite 1A, Sudbury, MA 01776. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL (978 or 866) 458-8768.