Thomas E. Keliher

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Keliher, Thomas E. After 57 years of filling the world with hearty laughs, colorful stories, unending family pride, enthusiastic rants and monstrous bear hugs, Thomas Eugene Keliher said his last "I love you" to his beloved wife Grace Stabell Schwab Keliher in the early hours of September 20, 2018. His enlarged heart is what led to his last breath, which came peacefully at home, but it's also why everyone close to him loved him so much. Measure the man by the life, love and laughter that surround him, and it's clear Tom was a giant. His mother, Marlene Noble Keliher, and sister, Susan Keliher, both of Boston, lived far away but were held near in his heart for every minute of every day, alongside the memory of his father, Michael Keliher, who ascended to heroic status as the ever-present patriarch. Four children Michael (Ania), Andrew (Dr. Margaret Ranck), Matthew and Katherine Keliher, and three step- children, Eric (Kari), Grace and Kaitlin Schwab who loved few things more than a piling into the kitchen for some cooked-to-perfection roast beef and more laughs than you shake a Hostess Zinger at. Four energetic grandkids Thomas and Jackson Keliher (Michael and Ania), Raegan Keliher (Andrew and Margaret), and Hannah Grace Schwab (Eric and Kari) and a fifth on the way (Michael and Ania), all of whom he boundlessly adored and whose photos were shared during many conversations with legislators in Grandpa Tom's lobbying business at the state capitol. Not to mention a steady stream of dear friends for whom his measure of quality is whether they'd run headlong into a burning building for him and they all would have. To say this loveable tasseled-loafer aficionado was one of a kind is a hell of an understatement. His family will struggle finding photos in which he's not flipping the bird. The Wisconsin border towns known for selling fireworks to Minnesotans like Tom likely will feel a hit to their economies. The area's power grid will breathe a sigh of relief now that the five TVs in the house aren't constantly blaring and the two ovens in the kitchen aren't cooking five times more food than we could ever imagine eating. Joy-riding in his dad's Alpha Romeo. Tipping a golf cart in the middle of the night and nearly crushing his oldest son, who still counts the experience among his fondest memories. Every day was an adventure, and any sort of low moment paled in comparison to the joy of the high moments. A respected lobbyist at the Minnesota state capitol for more than 30 years, Tom was named "Outstanding Lobbyist" by Minnesota Law and Politics Magazine. He represented clients including Minnesota Power, the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association, the Minnesota Petroleum Marketers Association, and dozens more. Early in his career, he worked as an aide to Representative Dave Bishop and as a lobbyist at Capitol Hill Associates, later striking out on his own, launching Keliher Government Affairs Consulting in 2011. Tom was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1960, where his father served in the U.S. Army and his mother worked in the CIA. From there, the stops included Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Potomac, Maryland, where he was gifted his treasured pony, Snowdon, on Christmas morning; and Minnetonka, Minnesota. Following his family's move to Boston, Tom returned to Minnesota and attended the University of St. Thomas, where he met his first wife and mother of his children, Judith Bedford Keliher. He later graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in economics. Tom's family and friends are invited to a visitation from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2, at O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home, 575 South Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. On Wednesday, October 3, at the same location, the family will host another visitation from 2-3 p.m. and a funeral service at 3 p.m. Tom would have hated all of that, but he would love to have you there. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Mary's Center for Women and Children (stmaryscenterma.org) at 90 Cushing Ave., Dorchester, MA 02125. Nothing was more important to Tom than his family, and Tom's sister, Susan, and her colleagues work tirelessly to provide a safety net for families who experienced trauma and are living in poverty. Your gift in Tom's honor would be tremendously meaningful. O'Halloran & Murphy 651-698-0796

Published on September 27, 2018