A fan of country western music and watching the Red Sox and Pats
Published August 13, 2019
MELROSE — Thomas F. Adinolfi, 87, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at his home.
Born in East Boston on March 31, 1932, Tom moved with his family to Malden where he graduated from Malden High School with the Class of 1951. While in high school, he enjoyed music as a Jr. Schubert, sang bass and loved football.
Instilled with a sense of purpose from an early age, Tom was taught responsibility and work ethic through his various jobs during his youth. He always remembered his younger years working hard, whether shining shoes or sweeping barbershops in Boston. His formative years spent working shaped his drive and values during life. After high school, he owned a gas station on Route 1 in Saugus with his brother and business partner, the late Tony Adinolfi.
After dating for three years, Tom was married to the love of his life and best friend, Isabelle Longo on October 15, 1961. They enjoyed 56 years together, but Tom, always a romantic, insisted on rounding up to 60 years of marriage. Tom’s dedication to Isabelle was paramount in his life and they shared a unique and inseparable bond. After the loss of Isabelle on June 16, 2018, Tom’s deep love for her never wavered and he continued to keep her close to his heart.
At Isabelle’s encouragement, Tom transitioned from the automobile industry to a new career in retail sales for Zayre and Ames. After starting as a salesperson, Tom’s strong work ethic enabled him to reach management level before his retirement.
With kindness in their hearts, Tom and Isabelle loved to entertain family and friends at their home in Melrose. With a deep sense of pride, Tom took particular and precise care of his home in Melrose. He dutifully kept the house up and the yard immaculate with hours spent mowing, raking and snow blowing. In his free time, Tom loved listening to country western music, and enjoyed watching sports, especially the Red Sox and the Patriots. He also had a love for cars that stayed with him through life.
A man of great inner faith, Tom stayed close to God with prayer throughout his life. He will be greatly and sorely missed, but his strength of character and humble, moral spirit will carry on in the hearts of those he loved.
Tom was the beloved husband and best friend to the late Isabelle J. (Longo) Adinolfi with whom he shared 60 years of dedication and adoring love. Devoted son of the late Nicholas and Josephine (Flammia) Adinolfi. Dear brother of Rocco Adinolfi of Fla., Mary Hallisey of Maine and the late Florence Angelo, P. Arthur Adinolfi, Joseph Adinolfi, and Anthony Adinolfi. Caring brother-in-law of Genevieve DiCarlo and her late husband Alfred, and the late Anthony Longo and his late wife Helen, the late Margaret Tierney and her late husband Ralph, the late Anne DiCarlo and her late husband Victor, and the late Beatrice Longo. Also survived by many devoted nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Relatives and friends will gather in honor and remembrance of Tom’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 4-8 p.m., and again on Wednesday at 9 a.m. before leaving in procession to Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield for his funeral Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. For more info: RobinsonFuneralHome.com
