Thomas Peter Friel
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Published in December 2024
Thomas P. Friel, 65, of Amherst, died peacefully on Tuesday December 24, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. The son of the late Philip J. Friel and Jeanne V. (Green) Friel, Tom was born on April 29, 1959 in Nashua NH where he also grew up.
He is a graduate of Brooks School in North Andover, MA. He attended 4 years at Columbia University in NYC where he studied engineering and later music composition.
Tom grew up in the Friel family golf business, and at a young age was known for being a tinkerer and a common sight on the family’s courses. Later on, he returned from NYC to raise his family and join the family business.
In his free time Tom enjoyed rowing, listening to music, playing piano, dining out, and spending time with friends and family. Tom was a member of the Independence Rowing Club, where he spearheaded the project to build a boathouse, later renamed the Thomas P. Friel Boathouse. He was also a member of the Riverside Boat Club in Cambridge, MA and a board member and former president of Gateways Community Services in Nashua.
Tom is predeceased by his mother Jeanne V. (Green) Friel, father Philip J. Friel, and beloved sidekick and canine companion, Peek-A-Boo.
Tom leaves behind his wife, Vouli and their children: Zephi, Naya, Artemis, and Dhanai. Survivors also include Tom’s two older brothers; Phil Friel and wife Ellen, and David Friel and wife Maureen. He also leaves behind his nieces and nephews: Lauren, PJ, Ryan, and Liz, and his loving canine companion, Mick.
A longtime friend of Tom’s, Kevin McAlary, had this to share about Tom: “His inquiring mind, his varied interests, his kindness and his generosity knew no limits… We will never forget sitting on the oversized couch in the barn on a Fall evening, listening to Tom serenade our little group with some classical music on his piano. Tom gave us joy. His love for animals, his disheveled back seat of his car, his pride and joy being in the boathouse. His love of good pressed coffee. So many parts to him. His love of education and good teachers, and how they can make such a big difference in someone’s life. His love of travel, his special connection to his early adulthood living in NYC and how he shared his passions with others. Tom embraced life in the nooks and crannies. He was an explorer… Tom made an everlasting impact on this thing we have come to call life.”
SERVICES: Visitation will be on Thursday, January 2nd, from 5pm – 7pm at Davis Funeral Home in Nashua, NH. A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Saturday, January 4th at St. Patrick Parish in Nashua, 29 Spring Street. Interment will then follow at 11:15 am the same day at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Hudson, NH. Family and friends are invited to attend.
Those who wish may make a memorial contribution to Compassionate Care ALS.
If you would like to contribute photos to display at Tom’s wake, you can do so at this link.
The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua has been placed in charge of arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com, (603-883-3401) “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER”.
