PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Thomas J. Cowhey, 77, of Pittsfield died Thursday, March 17, 2016, after a hard fought battle with cancer. 

He was born in East Hartford, Conn, on April 15, 1938, a son of Cornelius and Anna Stewart Cowhey. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1957 and worked at Bigelow Carpet Company until he was married. He also served two years in the United States Army.

On July 24, 1965, he married Doris Canzano at Mount Carmel Church in Pittsfield. They celebrated their 50th anniversary on July 24, 2015, surrounded by family and friends. 

Mr. Cowhey worked at General Electric after marriage and retired from Lockheed Martin in 1993. He was not happy being idle so after retirement he also worked at Country Curtains and then at Covanta until 2013. 

He enjoyed helping people and until recently volunteered at Hillcrest, making people comfortable during their treatments. 

He was a communicant of the former Mount Carmel Church, where he served on the parish council, ushered, co-chaired bazaars and lawn parties, and was president of the Holy Name Society. Most recently he was a communicant of Saint Ann's Church in Lenox, where he also served on the parish council, worked their summer festival and was a member of the Holy Name Society of Central Berkshire County. 

He loved sports. He was an avid Red Sox fan. Throughout his life for many years he coached CYC basketball and the city league baseball. He especially loved assisting with coaching his grandsons in baseball and basketball. He enjoyed bocce and bowling and until just recently was a member of leagues. He also loved crossword puzzles and going on family trips. 

Besides his wife Doris, he is survived by a son Michael and his wife Dawne; a daughter Lori and her husband Thomas; and six grandchildren, Jonathan, Matthew, Joshua, Anthony, Eva and Jordan, all of Pittsfield. 

He was predeceased by brothers Stewart and Cornelius and sisters Agnes, Ann and Mary. For the past two months he has been well cared for by the nurses and staff at Hillcrest Commons. 

Funeral notice: Services will be Tuesday, March 22, at 9 a.m. from the Flynn & Dagnoli-Bencivenga Funeral Home, 5 Elm St., Pittsfield. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Church, 132 Main St., Lenox, MA with the Rev. Monsignor John J. Bonzagni, pastor, officiating. Entombment will follow in St. Michael the Archangel Mausoleum in St. Joseph's Cemetery. 

Calling hours will be Monday, March 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Members of the Central Berkshire Holy Name Society will meet Monday, March 21, at 5 p.m. for a prayer service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Ann's Church in care of the funeral home.