Thomas F. Kane Jr.

Portland- Thomas F. Kane, Jr.94, (but don’t ever call him “Junior”) was born on August 19, 1917, and died on September 21, 2011, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was the oldest of three children born to Edna Faye and Thomas F. Kane, Sr., growing up in Portland’s West End.

Tom was a private, conservative man, who rarely talked about himself or spoke of his past. He was a better than average student, graduating from Portland High, class of 1935. At age 14, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and relished his times at Camp Hinds.

Tom was an athlete. He excelled at baseball. He played first base for PHS and hit the first home run ever hit out of the new Headlock Field – that ball become one of his treasured souvenirs. New to our family, Luke, attending his first Kane family 4th of July picnic at Ft. Williams, was in awe when 84 year old Grandpa Tom hit a rocket into the outfield for a stand-up double. Tom golfed as often as possible, daily if he could, spending his retirement winters in Arizona so he could continue to golf, and he played tennis weekly well into his 80’s.

His work career started at an early age. Tom had to take on after-school jobs to help support his family. One of those jobs was as an assistant milkman on a horse drawn milk wagon of Oakhurst Dairy. After high school, he was off to UMO where he studied pre-med and graduated in 1940 with a B.A. degree.

During WWII, Tom served in the U.S. Army, stationed in New Guinea. Upon his return from the war, he took a job at Philip K Frye Photography Studio, where he had worked during college. It was there he met the owners’ daughter, his future wife, Dorothy. They married in June of 1947 and that fall moved to Rhode Island where Tom had taken a job with the RI Dept of Fisheries as a marine biologist. In 1952 when he took a job with S.D.Warren as a microbiologist and company photographer, he moved his now family of four back to the Portland area, and soon settled in Scarborough.

Tom’s passions were his family, deer hunting especially with his son Tommy and Uncle Richard in Richmond, playing golf with his good friend Roy Pinette and son Philip, and remaining active in scouting as Scout Master of Troop 39. Two of his proudest moments were when he pinned an Eagle Scout badge on each of his sons. In later years, he witnessed both of his grandsons receive their Eagle, and was pleased when his great grandson recently joined scouting.

Both Tom and Dot enjoyed traveling – whether it was a day trip or a season long event.

The family spent one summer vacation in the mid 60’s camping their way across the country. Dot worked at Portland High and she and Tom would volunteer to be chaperones on class trips to Europe. Upon retirement, they began traveling in earnest. Many of their trips were planned, with his encouragement, so she could check things off her ‘bucket list’ such as kissing the Blarney Stone, walking on a glacier, and swimming in the Pacific.

We are so appreciative of the fantastic staff at the Barron Center for their loving care during Dad’s final year.

He is predeceased by his wife of 54 yrs, Dorothy C. Kane; his parents; his brother Kenneth Sr; nephew Kenneth Jr; and great grandson Thomas F. Kane V.

He is survived by his sons, Thomas F. III and Marianne of Gorham, and Philip B. and Jane of Standish; his grandchildren Thomas F. IV (aka Chip) of Cape Elizabeth, Amy E. and Lucas Harmon of Buxton, and Brian S. Kane of Standish; and his great grandchildren Sydney and Emma Kane, Wesley Harmon, Vincent, Zack and Tila Esposito and their mother Bridgette Kane; his sister Shirley Smith of Chicago; his sister-in-law Shirley Kane; his sister-in-law Marjorie Skinner and several cherished nieces and nephews.

Family and Friends are invited to attend a time of visitation Sunday September 25, 2011 from 6 -8 p.m. at the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland.

Funeral services will be 11a.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery Portland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his memory to

The Barron Center, 1145 Brighton Ave, Portland, ME 04102

Boy Scouts of America, 131 Johnson Rd, Portland, ME 04102

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Tom’s guestbook.