July 5, 2021
Thomas “Mr. Thomas” Henry Byczkoski of Revere, formerly of Chelsea passed away in his sleep on June 29, 2021, at the Wakefield Center following an illness. He was 77 years old.
Mr. Byczkoski was a 1963 Chelsea High School graduate. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army against the advice of his doctor. One of his proudest achievements was receiving his U.S. Army Completion of Training certificate. However due to a medical condition, Thomas was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on September 12, 1968.
Throughout his life “Mr. Thomas” held various positions working as a bartender, security officer, working in retail, working in the furniture business which he employed his nephew Edmund Kopaczynski for a while, and then his final role prior to his illness, he worked as a private investigator.
Thomas’ presence was as big and noticeably as he was. Standing well over six and a half feet tall, Thomas had a booming voice that could be heard from rooms away. That voice he would lend to many karaoke stages throughout his life, a regular at the Kowloon in Saugus, Thomas would make cassette recordings for his Godson Thomas Kopaczynski, belting out the tune he told people was written for him, “My Way” by the great Frank Sinatra.
With a deep and commanding voice while towering over most people he encountered, he was quite intimidating and downright scary to interact with if you did not know him well. Thomas took it upon himself to ensure that his late parents, Ed, and Lucy were well taken care of when they moved into an assisted living facility, often Thomas was brash and loud as he made inquiries on the level of care his parents were receiving. Earning him a few nicknames from staff at the facility. Upon the death of his mother Thomas was gracious and thankful and expressed that to the staff that oversaw her care. Following her funeral Thomas told one of his nephews “Make sure you hug your mother extra each time you see her, I wish I had.”
Whenever one of Thomas’ siblings needed a helping hand, he was the first to stop what he was doing and dash over with bags full of food, extra money, one of the tightest bearhugs you ever received, and of course he would have queued up some jokes. That rough and tough man of steel exterior broke in 2005 when he was asked to be a pallbearer for his beloved “second brother” brother-in-law Paul he declined by stating “I just can't do it not even for Paul '' and he was moved to tears.
Thomas struggled all through his life to be a good man. He was not perfect, then again who is? He loved his family and close circle of friends, he never gave up on himself, or on love itself.
Thomas was born September 8, 1943. He was the loving son of the late Edmund S. & Lucy A. Byczkoski (Wisniewski). He was the lovable and funny brother to Lucille A. Kopaczynski and her late husband, Paul, of Stoneham, and Edmund S. Byczkoski Jr. of Wakefield. He was the father of Robin Levin of Chelmsford.
Thomas leaves behind his nieces and nephews Ann Catalano of Newport, RI, Mary Burns of Billerica, Lynn Casa of Epping, NH, Elaine Navarro of Stoneham, Beth Agneta of Plaistow, NH, Edmund Kopaczynski of Litchfield, NH, Joseph Kopaczynski of Springfield, Pa., Edmund S. Byczkoski III of Fort Bragg, NC and Thomas Kopaczynski of Boston; great-nephews and nieces Adam, Nicholas, Amanda, Daniel, Caitlyn A, Kyle, Caitlyn B, Evangelyn, Jonathan, Edmund IV, Robert Jr., Katrina, E’Angelyliz, Paul J., Ella F. and Edvand.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. www.smithfuneralhomes.com
All are invited to a Memorial Mass to celebrate Tommy’s Life on Saturday September 11, 2021, at 11:00am at Our Lady of Częstochowa located at 655 Dorchester Ave, South Boston, MA 02127
Mr. Byczkoski was a 1963 Chelsea High School graduate. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army against the advice of his doctor. One of his proudest achievements was receiving his U.S. Army Completion of Training certificate. However due to a medical condition, Thomas was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on September 12, 1968.
Throughout his life “Mr. Thomas” held various positions working as a bartender, security officer, working in retail, working in the furniture business which he employed his nephew Edmund Kopaczynski for a while, and then his final role prior to his illness, he worked as a private investigator.
Thomas’ presence was as big and noticeably as he was. Standing well over six and a half feet tall, Thomas had a booming voice that could be heard from rooms away. That voice he would lend to many karaoke stages throughout his life, a regular at the Kowloon in Saugus, Thomas would make cassette recordings for his Godson Thomas Kopaczynski, belting out the tune he told people was written for him, “My Way” by the great Frank Sinatra.
With a deep and commanding voice while towering over most people he encountered, he was quite intimidating and downright scary to interact with if you did not know him well. Thomas took it upon himself to ensure that his late parents, Ed, and Lucy were well taken care of when they moved into an assisted living facility, often Thomas was brash and loud as he made inquiries on the level of care his parents were receiving. Earning him a few nicknames from staff at the facility. Upon the death of his mother Thomas was gracious and thankful and expressed that to the staff that oversaw her care. Following her funeral Thomas told one of his nephews “Make sure you hug your mother extra each time you see her, I wish I had.”
Whenever one of Thomas’ siblings needed a helping hand, he was the first to stop what he was doing and dash over with bags full of food, extra money, one of the tightest bearhugs you ever received, and of course he would have queued up some jokes. That rough and tough man of steel exterior broke in 2005 when he was asked to be a pallbearer for his beloved “second brother” brother-in-law Paul he declined by stating “I just can't do it not even for Paul '' and he was moved to tears.
Thomas struggled all through his life to be a good man. He was not perfect, then again who is? He loved his family and close circle of friends, he never gave up on himself, or on love itself.
Thomas was born September 8, 1943. He was the loving son of the late Edmund S. & Lucy A. Byczkoski (Wisniewski). He was the lovable and funny brother to Lucille A. Kopaczynski and her late husband, Paul, of Stoneham, and Edmund S. Byczkoski Jr. of Wakefield. He was the father of Robin Levin of Chelmsford.
Thomas leaves behind his nieces and nephews Ann Catalano of Newport, RI, Mary Burns of Billerica, Lynn Casa of Epping, NH, Elaine Navarro of Stoneham, Beth Agneta of Plaistow, NH, Edmund Kopaczynski of Litchfield, NH, Joseph Kopaczynski of Springfield, Pa., Edmund S. Byczkoski III of Fort Bragg, NC and Thomas Kopaczynski of Boston; great-nephews and nieces Adam, Nicholas, Amanda, Daniel, Caitlyn A, Kyle, Caitlyn B, Evangelyn, Jonathan, Edmund IV, Robert Jr., Katrina, E’Angelyliz, Paul J., Ella F. and Edvand.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. www.smithfuneralhomes.com
All are invited to a Memorial Mass to celebrate Tommy’s Life on Saturday September 11, 2021, at 11:00am at Our Lady of Częstochowa located at 655 Dorchester Ave, South Boston, MA 02127