SOUTH THOMASTON — Thomas ‘Tommy’ ‘Tom’ ‘Grampy’ Anthony Bosica, Jr, 75, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on November 21, 2022, at the Sussman House in Rockport. He lived with multiple sclerosis for the last 19 years of his life and made the most of his time on earth despite the challenges of this condition.

He was born on April 5, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland to Thomas A. and Gertrude E. Bosica. The family moved to Florham Park, New Jersey in 1954. He attended Bayley Ellard High School in Madison, New Jersey. In his sophomore year of high school, he met the love of his life, A, and graduated in 1965. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration at Saint Michael’s College in Winooski Park, Vermont graduating in 1969.

On July 19th of that same year, Tom and A got married at Assumption Church in Morristown, New Jersey. They honeymooned in Lyndonville, Vermont. On their drive, they pulled over at a diner to watch the moon landing.

They began their young lives together in Newfane, Vermont where Tom took a position as Director of Personnel and Public Relations at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. In January of 1971, Tom and A welcomed the birth of their first child, Katie, at the same hospital.

The family moved to Maine in September 1974 when Tom started a role at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport, as the Director of Personnel Services. Tom’s other children, Jenny and Matthew, were born at Pen Bay a few years later. His title and responsibilities at Pen Bay changed a few times over the course of his thirty-two-year career. He was the Director of Human Services which included the Childcare Center, Library, Education, and Volunteer Services, and eventually served as the Vice President of Human Resources until his retirement in 2006. Tom received many accolades over the years which were a testament to the devotion he had for his work at Pen Bay. In 1997 he was presented the President’s Award by the Maine Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions, service, and dedication to the Society. Tom took great pride in his role and the hospital which was like a second home to him. He simply loved the people he worked with.

In 2006 Tom founded a Midcoast Maine MS Support Group two years after his diagnosis and served as its leader until 2019. Monthly meetings were organized where people living with MS could come together to talk, socialize, and better understand how to live with the disease. Tom and A hosted an annual summer barbecue at their house on the St. George river which became a focal point of the support group’s year. He received the Above and Beyond Outstanding Self-Help Group Leader from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

For over 25 years Tom and his family lived at 87 Beech Street – a home close to Tom’s heart. The house was often filled with visiting friends and family, cozy evenings watching television around the wood stove, and relaxing summer barbecues with Tom at the grill where he made BBQ for ‘happy time’ - his family’s version of happy hour.

Tom enjoyed traveling, especially Lake Garda and Atri, Abruzzo – the birthplace of his grandfather Antonio who emigrated to the United States. Tom acquired Italian citizenship in 2007. Ireland, Scotland, and England were other destinations he loved. Tom was a natural, nurturing father and grandfather, and his children and grandchildren brought him great joy and pride. He took pleasure in watching movies, sharing stories, and playing games with them.

Predeceased by his parents Thomas and Gertrude Bosica; Tom is survived by A, his wife of 53 years, of South Thomaston; his daughter, Katie Bosica Dexter, and her husband Paul and their children, Emma and Nora of North Yarmouth; his daughter, Jenny Bosica Fish, and her husband Keith and their children Preston and Evie of Thomaston; his son, Matthew Sweeney Bosica and his partner Rory Nicholls of Kingsbridge, England; his sister Rita Jacobus of Williston, Vermont; his sister-in-law Eileen Burava and her husband Roger of Southington, Connecticut; one nephew, Chris Jacobus and his wife Aruna Ezekiel of Austin, Texas; three nieces, Amy Jacobus and partner Paul Merle of Brooklyn, New York, Kristen Murphy and her husband Rich, Megan Evjen and partner Mike Maggipinto of Southington, Connecticut; his best friend Jack Luckey and wife Lenore of Madison, New Jersey; and his bonus Maine family, Kristin, David, Joey, Macey, and Koan Lawson.

Family and friends are invited to visit Friday, January 6, 2023, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter, Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland where a Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 11 a.m. For those unable to attend in person, a livestream of the service may be seen on Tom’s Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com, first click on “Photos & Videos” Tab and then “Watch Webcast.”

Memories and condolences may be shared at that same address.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, National Headquarters, 6520 N. Andrews Ave., Ford Lauderdale, FL 33309-2132; or Area Interfaith Outreach, P.O. Box 113, Rockland, Maine
04841.