Thomas L. Dwyer

Thomas L. Dwyer, 65, of North Providence, RI died on Sunday, January 10, 2016. He was the beloved husband of Rosemary (McGuirl) Dwyer for 37 years and the loving father of Katherine Ann Dwyer. He is survived by his sister, Marie McGlynn (Michael) of East Greenwich, his brother, Patrick (Susan) Dwyer of Warwick, brother-in-law Donald T. Martin of Glastonbury, Connecticut, sisters-in-law Barbara Dwyer of Wickford, Ann McGuirl of Lincoln, and Superior Court Judge Susan E. McGuirl of Lincoln. He was predeceased by his brother Sean Dwyer, and his sister, Kathleen P. Martin. Tom was the proud uncle of Michaela McGuirl, Julianna McGuirl, Kieran McGlynn, Lt. RISP Michael McGlynn, the late Donald T. Martin, Jr., Jennifer DiCarlo, Siobhan Federici, Elizabeth Dwyer, Lauren Dwyer, Michael Fraatz, Mark Casey, Brenda Reis, and Diane Casey, and many grandnieces and grandnephews, including the Kelleher and King families. Tom was born in Aushleenin, Ballinamore, County Leitrim, Ireland, the son of the late Francis and Katherine (Mulvey) Dwyer. He met his two best friends, Philip (Ann) Barber of South Kingston, and Edward (Linda) Albanese of Charlestown, when they attended St. Edward's School and LaSalle Academy together, and have enjoyed over 50 years of friendship. Tom graduated from CCRI, and received his bachelor's and masters' degree from Rhode Island College. He spent his entire career of thirty three plus years in public child welfare, holding a variety of positions including front line, administrative and management positions. He began as a Child Protective Social Worker in 1977 and then moved on to retire in 2007 as Associate Director of DCYF. Tom was then recruited by the State of Connecticut and served as Director of Foster Care and Adoption Services for two years. In Rhode Island, Tom was a founding member of the Hasbro Hospital Child Protection Program Friday Roundtable, founding partner of the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), and the RI Child Fatality and Near Fatality Team in the office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and helped develop the first Safe Haven Law. Tom was a former member of the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors, the Hasbro Children's Hospital Multidisciplinary Team on Child Abuse and Neglect, the Rhode Island Citizens Review Panel on Child Protective Services, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, and former member of the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island College Foundation, Tri-Cap Group Home, and Communities for People. Tom formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Catholic Social Services, and as a member of several Legislative Commissions, and presently was serving as Co-Chair of the Advisory Commission to the Rhode Island Child Advocate. Tom's funeral will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 8:45 from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence. Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in Saint Augustine Church, 639 Mount Pleasant Ave. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Providence. Visiting hours Wednesday evening 3-7 pm.In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Children's Friend & Service, 153 Summer Street, Providence, RI 02903.