Thomas Aquinas “Dilly” Walsh, who grew up spending summers in Quogue with his family, died at his home in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard on December 1 after a two-and-a-half-year struggle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Born in New York City to Mildred “Billie” Walsh and Thomas Walsh, who predeceased him, he attended St. Gabriel’s School. Dividing his time between Quogue and Palm Beach growing up, he also attended the Canterbury School and went on to graduate from St. Michael’s College in Vermont with a degree in business management. He worked for more than 35 years as a real estate investment broker, supplementing his income in the early years with bartending jobs at several watering holes on the Vineyard.
He met his future wife, Barbara Kutz, while four-wheel driving on the Vineyard’s South Beach, and they were married in Edgartown at St. Elizabeth’s in 1974.
The couple raised their three children in Dover, Massachusetts, and on the Vineyard. He and Barbara also shared a love of travel and traveled extensively all over the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean islands, and Central America.
Diagnosed with ALS in 2007, Mr. Walsh accepted the news with courage, grace, and dignity. His first words about the disease to his closest friends were, “Don’t cry for me: I have had a great run in life and a lot of good fortune. Worry about the people who have this disease who have no resources and no family support to get them through.” He decided to spend his remaining years raising money for Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS), a nonprofit organization that serves the individual needs of ALS patients and families, providing holistic support, equipment, guidance and a supportive ear as they struggle with all of the issues associated with this terrible disease.
Upon his diagnosis he immediately volunteered to become a participant in the Mass General Hospital ALS research program, and continued to participate until his death. Together with Senator John Kerry, a friend, he was also instrumental in the passage of the ALS Registry Act that documents the number of ALS cases in the country and is considered invaluable for ALS research.
In addition to his wife and three children, Kara, 25, Marisa, 23, and Dylan, 20, he is survived by his mother, Mildred “Billie” Walsh; two sisters, Barbara Freehill and Constance Walsh of Quogue and Vero Beach, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass was held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, December 5.
In lieu of flowers, donations to CCALS, either online at CCALS.org or by mail to Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574 would be appreciated by the family.
on Dec 9, 2009