SACO — Dr. Thomas J. Kane Sr., 82, of Saco, passed away peacefully Monday evening, June 20, 2016, listening to Irish music and surrounded by family.

Tom was born on June 19, 1934, in Portland – the seventh of eight children – to Irish immigrant parents, Martin and Delia Kane. He spent the early years on Munjoy Hill, where he developed a deep unwavering faith in the Catholic Church and the Boston Red Sox.

A proud graduate of Cheverus High School, where he later taught briefly, Tom went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from St. Dunstan’s University in Prince Edward Island and two master’s degrees from Boston College. He later earned his Ph.D. in social work from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Tom always felt so fortunate to further his education and even more fortunate that none of his alma maters played in the same athletic division, so he could safely root for BC every game.

Before pursuing a career in social work, Tom fell in love with Marlene Sylvester, also of Portland, and the two married on Sept. 3, 1960.

Tom’s passion for social work and career in mental health was driven by a desire to help and serve others. He proudly served as the chief of mental health services for the Maine Department of Community Mental Health, as executive director of several mental health centers including York County Counseling Services and was instrumental in founding the School of Social Work at the University of New England. Even after his retirement, Tom continued to advocate for mental health and Maine people in the state Legislature, serving eight years as Saco’s Democratic state representative. He believed we all do the best we can with what we have and displayed that in all aspects of his life.

While he was immensely proud of his contribution to the mental health field, it always came second to the love and pride he had for his family. He knew there was nothing more important than family, and nothing made him happier than singing Irish songs with the ones he loved. He showed us that together we could make it through the ups and downs of life.

As the son of Irish immigrants, it was with great joy that Tom often returned to his parents’ homesteads in Ireland with his siblings, children and later grandchildren to visit family and the place where his parents’ lives began. Tom believed that his parent’s story of faith, courage, love, and opportunity was an important one and ought to be shared with future generations.

Tom was an incredible husband, father, uncle, grandfather, role model, friend and so much more to the people he loved and the people who loved him.

Tom was preceded in death by: his parents, Martin and Delia; siblings, Mary “Mae” Verre, Martin “Bobby” Kane, John Kane, Theresa Croswell, Rev. Francis Kane and Eddie Kane; and son-in-law, Robert Kirby.

He is survived by; his wife, Marlene; sister, Margaret Lussier and her husband, George; children, Rosemary Kane Kirby and her husband, Stephen Meserve, of Saco, Thomas Kane Jr. and his wife Sam, of Saco, Karen Lemoine and her husband, David, of Saco; and Joseph Kane of Cape Elizabeth; grandchildren, Christine Kirby, Meaghan Kirby, Katherine Kirby, Ashley Kane, Allyson Kane, Joseph Lemoine, John “Jack” Lemoine, Mary Lemoine, Michael Kane, William Kane, Matthew Kane, Paige Meserve, and Cody Meserve; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff at Maine Medical Center, especially Dr. D’Angelo, and to Dr. Hal Cohen at PrimeCare for always treating Tom more like family than a patient.

Visiting hours will be on Monday, June 27 from 4-7 p.m. at Cote Funeral Home, 87 James St., Saco. The funeral Mass will be Tuesday, June 28 at 11 a.m. at Most Holy Trinity in Saco.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation online at www.michaeljfox.org or by mail to Donation Processing, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.