Thomas Edward Macnamara

Dr. Thomas Edward Macnamara died peacefully on May 6, 2022 at home just short of his 93rd birthday. He was surrounded by his wife of 66 years, Nuala Macnamara; their children and spouses: Anne Mackey (Dan), Bridget Moore, Mary Macnamara, Brian Macnamara (Marie) and Edward Macnamara (Ruth) and two of their 13 grandchildren, Helen and Julia Macnamara. He is survived by his sister Mona Devine (Dennis deceased), brother Brian Macnamara (Margaret) He was preceded in death by his beloved sister Moyragh McKelvie (Jimmy). He also leaves 11 other grandchildren Johnny Mackey (Jamie), Rosie Mackey, Jonathan Moore, Jessica Moore, Monica Moore, Faith Moore, Thomas Macnamara, Ellen Macnamara (Andrew), Gregory Macnamara (Brites), Caitlin Macnamara and Shane Macnamara, as well as two great-grandchildren Gabriel Blackden and Theodore Blackden. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who remember him as their favorite Uncle as well as family and loved ones around the world.

Dr. Macnamara was born in Airdrie, Scotland in 1929. After his graduation from Glasgow University Medical School in 1952, he continued his training in medicine and Anesthesia in Glasgow, Scotland and Birmingham, England where Nuala Caulfield was working as a nurse. After their marriage in September 1956, they emigrated to Boston where he continued his training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. After a year in Boston they moved to DC where he completed his training at Georgetown University. He returned to Mass General in 1960 as a Staff Anesthesiologist. Finally, in 1962 he returned again to Georgetown University where he eventually became the Chief of Anesthesiology. During his tenure, Georgetown was awarded the contract to provide Anesthesiology Services at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. He then served as Chief of Anesthesiology at NIH, where he thoroughly enjoyed the partnerships and collaboration with other members of NIH until his retirement in 1990.

He continued his life of service after he retired by becoming a sacristan at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia where he served tirelessly every Sunday for 15 years. From March to May 1993, he and Nuala spent two months in Zambia training local doctors to become anesthesiologists.

Despite his busy schedule as a physician, he was actively involved in family events. Every summer the whole family would travel to Kitty Hawk, NC to enjoy the sand and surf. That tradition has been passed on to each of his children who continue to take their families to the Outer Banks. When the children became involved in youth swimming, he became an active participant by volunteering in the Northern Virginia Swimming League.

He often reminded his children of the following from Luke’s Gospel (Luke 12:48) “From everyone who has been given more, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked”. He felt he had been given great gifts from God and he spent his whole life to ensure that he heard these words from Matthew 25:21 on May 6: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter in the joy of your master”.

Visitation will be at Murphy Funeral Homes at 4510 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA from 4-6 pm on May 10, 2022. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Agnes Catholic Church at 1910 Randolph St, Arlington VA at 11 am on May 11, 2022. Gravesite services to follow at Columbia Gardens Cemetery 3411 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, VA.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to the Diocese of Arlington Mission in Banica, Dominion Republic or to Capital Caring Hospice of Virginia by selecting the below links.