Thomas "Tom" M. Hennessey, Jr.

Thomas M. Hennessey, Jr. at the age of 83, died on January 25, 2025, in Hilton Head, SC. Tom was born on December 24, 1941, in Providence, RI, to the late Thomas and Esther Hennessey (Dwyer).  Soon after, his family moved to Winchester, MA where Tom spent his childhood. He attended Winchester High School, The Browne & Nichols School, and The Lawrenceville School. Tom graduated from Holy Cross College in 1964 with a B.S. degree in English.

 Upon graduation he began work as a management trainee at the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company in Providence, RI. He joined AT&T’s corporate finance department in 1978. As AT&T’s Enterprise Financial Systems Architect, he shaped the Bell System’s global financial systems and practices in response to the deregulation and divestiture of its regional operating and global manufacturing operations. In 1987 he was selected to attend Northwestern University’s Kellogg Executive Development Program. After retiring in 1998, he joined KPMG Consulting where he advised major tech companies on their global enterprise systems strategies. He moved to Hilton Head, SC in 2002 and fully retired in 2003. 

Tom married Linda Maroney, his high school sweetheart in 1963. Together they raised three daughters while living in Worcester, MA; Cranston, RI; Scituate, MA; and Montgomery Twp., NJ before settling in Hilton Head. The family also managed to spend some time together every summer on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, NH. Tom loved his family, friends, music, nature, and Boston sports teams.  In retirement, Tom was an avid tennis player and kayaker and very active in the Sea Pines Men’s Club Kayak Group, The Audubon Newhall Preserve, and the South of the Broad Democratic Club. 

Tom is survived by, Linda, his loving wife of 62 years; their three daughters; Julie Hennessey-Niland (John) of College Station, TX, Melissa Hennessey of Clinton, CT, and Carolyn Hennessey Rose (Greg) of Boston, MA; Tom’s brother, James Hennessey (Mercedes) of Hopewell, NJ; four grandsons and several nieces & nephews.  He is predeceased by his sister Anne Sorbie of South Yarmouth, MA.

A private family celebration of Tom’s life will be held in Wolfeboro, NH at a later date. 

 Contributions may be made in Tom’s memory to Hilton Head Audubon Society (www.hiltonheadaudubon.org) or to a charity of your choice.