Obituary for Richard T "Terry" Cronin
Terry Cronin, 78, died April 18 after a recent diagnosis and treatment for neuroendocrine carcinoma. He was at home and his children were by his side. His beloved wife Trudi died from lymphoma on April 2, 2020. Terry was raised in Pawtucket, RI, and attended Tolman High School. He attended the University of Rhode Island where he met Trudi (Howard). Together they lived in Winooski, VT; Andover, CT; Newton, MA; and Upper Saddle River, NJ, before settling full time in West Harwich, where Terry spent childhood summers.
He made a career in the automotive industry, the highlight of which was 30 years spent with BMW North America. He was a “people person” through and through, striking up conversations and making friends in the most unlikely places. While Terry was working he loved being out on the road, collecting and sharing stories and building friendships. The same was true in retirement. He developed new routines, finding fitness and enjoying daily walks and outings with his beloved dogs Blue, Harley and Grover. He made food deliveries as a driver for the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. He drove the Harwich Council on Aging senior bus, taking his passengers – soon his friends – on errands around town.
Terry laughed often and loved freely. His family and friends benefited from his sage advice and affection. He was generous with his time and his tools, and the Cronin home was a meeting spot for holidays and gatherings throughout the year.
Terry is survived by his children Todd (Rye, NH), Traci (Belmont, MA) and Ty (West Harwich, MA) Cronin, and Elizabeth Ross (Coconut Creek, FL); their spouses and partners Karen Stewart, John Doherty, Brenda Azure and Michael Weiss; and their children Sawyer (13) and Wes (11) Cronin; Anna (17), Layne (14) and Declan (11) Doherty; Sienna (14) and Alexa (12) Azure. He also leaves his sister and brother-in-law Judy and Tom Purvis of Hilton Head, SC, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Patty (Howard) and Peter Thompson of Port St. Lucie, FL, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Trudi (Howard) Cronin and their infant son, Scott Alexander.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Gifts may be made in his memory to the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, 133 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, MA, 02645 (www.thefamilypantry.com).
He made a career in the automotive industry, the highlight of which was 30 years spent with BMW North America. He was a “people person” through and through, striking up conversations and making friends in the most unlikely places. While Terry was working he loved being out on the road, collecting and sharing stories and building friendships. The same was true in retirement. He developed new routines, finding fitness and enjoying daily walks and outings with his beloved dogs Blue, Harley and Grover. He made food deliveries as a driver for the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. He drove the Harwich Council on Aging senior bus, taking his passengers – soon his friends – on errands around town.
Terry laughed often and loved freely. His family and friends benefited from his sage advice and affection. He was generous with his time and his tools, and the Cronin home was a meeting spot for holidays and gatherings throughout the year.
Terry is survived by his children Todd (Rye, NH), Traci (Belmont, MA) and Ty (West Harwich, MA) Cronin, and Elizabeth Ross (Coconut Creek, FL); their spouses and partners Karen Stewart, John Doherty, Brenda Azure and Michael Weiss; and their children Sawyer (13) and Wes (11) Cronin; Anna (17), Layne (14) and Declan (11) Doherty; Sienna (14) and Alexa (12) Azure. He also leaves his sister and brother-in-law Judy and Tom Purvis of Hilton Head, SC, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Patty (Howard) and Peter Thompson of Port St. Lucie, FL, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Trudi (Howard) Cronin and their infant son, Scott Alexander.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Gifts may be made in his memory to the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, 133 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, MA, 02645 (www.thefamilypantry.com).