Thomas Michael McGovern Esq.

Born in Roxbury, MA, son of the late William J. and the late Sarah (Hession) McGovern, he lived in Roxbury before moving to Swansea in 1946. He left Swansea to reside in Fall River at Bayview in 2001.

Attorney McGovern worked in the correctional field, serving as Field Supervisor and Counselor for the Youth Service Board from 1946 to 1956. He then became the Chief Probation Officer for the Superior Court in Bristol County, where he served for 33 years, retiring in 1989. After leaving the Superior Court System, he engaged in private law practice, working primarily in Probate Court with child custody and adoption matters and also in patient matters at the John C. Corrigan Mental Health Facility in Fall River and at Taunton State Hospital.

Attorney McGovern graduated from the High School of Commerce in 1934, Northeastern University School of Law in 1939 and Assumption College class of 1981, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.

He was a United States Army Veteran of World War II, serving as First Lieutenant in the Philippines and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans of Fall River. He was a former communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Swansea where he was a member and former Vice President of its Saint Vincent de Paul Group.

Attorney McGovern was a Past President of the Massachusetts Probation Association and the Chief Probation Officers Association of the Superior Court, a member of the Retired Chief Probation Officers Association and the Massachusetts, Fall River and Bristol Bar Associations, and was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court.

He served as a Member and Chairman of the Swansea School Committee, Chairman of the School Building Committee for the additions to the Gardner and Luther Schools, member of the School Building Committee for the Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School and a former member of the Joseph Case High School Scholarship Fund. He was on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Citizens Board of the Earth Service Program for the Fall River YMCA, a member of the former Clover Club of Fall River, and served on the Human Rights Committee at Taunton State Hospital where he served as Vice President in 2000. He was also a member and served on the Board of Directors at the Fall River YMCA and was on the Board of the Shepherd’s Center of Fall River.

Surviving: two daughters Sally Spooner and her husband Bruce of Lakeville, MA and Attorney Patricia McGovern and her husband David Behrens of NY, NY; two grandsons John G. Spooner and his wife Inna Zinger and Michael J. Spooner; dear friends Herb and Laura Verry and William and Janet McAndrews and their daughters Katherine Keeny and Ellen Stephen. He was also brother of the late Helen M. McBrearty.

His Funeral will be held at Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 11:30 AM in Holy Name Church, Hanover St. Fall River. His family will receive friends in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE at CHERRY PLACE, 178 Winter St. Fall River from 9 – 11 AM prior to his mass. Contributions in his honor may be made to the Thomas McGovern Legal Education Endowment Trust Fund at the Fall River Bar Association, c/o Post Office Box 688, Fall River , MA 02722 or the Fall River YMCA, 1999 North Main St. Fall River, MA 02720. Burial Private.