Thomas J. Hartnett, Jr.

Thomas J. Hartnett, Jr., 96, a longtime resident of Chatham, Massachusetts, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Born in Cambridge, he was the son of the late Thomas J. and Frances (Finn) Hartnett, and the beloved husband of the late Louise L. (Lavoie) Hartnett.
 Tom was raised and educated in North Cambridge alongside his sisters, Anne, Mary, and Elinor. He graduated from St. Sebastian High School in 1948 and went on to earn his degree from Tufts University in 1952, after which he proudly served his country in the United States Army.
When Tom met Louise Lavoie, he knew he had met the love of his life. They were married in 1955 after just 424 days of dating. He delighted in his wife and encouraged her to pursue her education and her work for social justice in Washington, which he deeply admired.
Tom and Louise welcomed four children, three boys and a girl, who were loved fiercely. Tom was actively involved in their lives, coaching as many teams as he could and always making time to check in on his kids, even as they grew to adulthood and became parents themselves. His children remember him as patient, kind, a great listener, and always in their corner.
At 6’5”, Tom was a gentle giant with a heart to match, always willing to share his kindness. A happy and easygoing person, Tom also had a strong work ethic. He enjoyed a career of more than 30 years with Bird Roofing, ultimately serving as the company’s Vice President. Many considered him the best boss they ever had—he was trusted, supportive, and genuinely interested in the lives of his colleagues and their families. Tom was truly a “giant” in the building materials industry.
After his retirement, Tom and Louise moved to Chatham, where they built a home that they - along with their family and many friends, old and new - cherished for more than 30 years. The Cape Cod breeze that floated to the house from Oyster Pond offered a contentment to visitors surpassed only by the warmth and hospitality of the hosts. A knock on the door was rare–all were welcome. And more often than not, Tom and Louise would already be outside: Louise tending to her flowers and Tom mowing the lawn or chasing away the rabbits that threatened his wife’s garden.
In his later years, he adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, remaining a steady and loving presence who would move heaven and earth to be by their side. They remember fondly his playfulness, his humor, his singing, and his engrossing - if sometimes heavily fictionalized - stories.
Tom never met a stranger; he could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere–a trait that has been gifted to the generations that have followed him. He never forgot a name or a face and truly cared about people’s stories. However, family always mattered the most. Tom kept in touch even with his extended family, keeping the Hartnetts connected with the Finns (his mother’s family) and the Drummeys (his sister Mary’s family).
He was an avid Boston sports fan and a talented athlete in his younger days. Even into his 90s, he stayed busy with small construction projects, always keeping his and Louise’s little piece of heaven just that.
Tom is survived by his children: Tom and his wife Shelley; Ellen Kilicarslan and her husband Zafer; Dan and his wife Mary; and Stephen and his wife Kristin. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Alexandra, TJ, Meg, Christopher, Julian, and Allison; and his great-grandchildren: Eliza, Izabel, and Nathan. He was preceded in death by his sisters, his grandson John, and his beloved wife, Louise.
Family and friends will honor and remember Tom’s life privately.
To share a memory with the Hartnett Family, kindly visit www.mccarthyfh.com