Thomas Joseph McGovern, Jr. ’59 died on March 23, 2005, in Needham, Massachusetts.

Born on May 6, 1936, in West Newton, MA, he prepared for college at Waltham (MA) High School and became a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Bowdoin. Following his graduation in 1959, he served in the U.S. Army until February of 1962, attaining the rank of specialist 4th class. He taught history, psychology, and social studies at Watertown (MA) High School for more than 40 years and coached basketball, track, and golf at Watertown High School and Brookline High School. In 1967, he received a master of education degree from Boston State College, specializing in psychology. In the 1970s, he was a volunteer worker in one of Bowdoin’s capital campaigns. He was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Needham, where he also taught for many years. Surviving are his wife, Elaine Sheehan McGovern, whom he married in 1964; six sons, Michael T. McGovern of Medfield, MA, Major Daniel P. McGovern ’88 of Jacksonville, NC, Edward J. McGovern of Washington, DC, Robert F. McGovern of Annapolis, MD, James M. McGovern of Holliston, MA, and William A. McGovern of Washington, DC; three sisters, Sheila Neilson and Eleanor Cochrane, both of Waltham, and Barbara Childers of Truro, MA; and seven grandchildren.