Thomas "Tom" Ethrington Unsworth Jr., 85, of Lee, MA, passed away on July 15, 2026. He was predeceased by his son, Christopher Kiejna Unsworth; his parents, Thomas E. and Lucie (Hunt) Unsworth; and his three sisters, Joan, Marion, and Ruth.

Born and raised in Taunton, MA, Tom attended Coyle High School, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. He would proudly go on to earn his degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1963. Ever a determined man with (dry) humor, he never let his children forget that during these formative college years, he'd hitchhike his way home from South Bend to Taunton for summer breaks, and to Newport, RI, to see his future bride. Tom was a die-hard Fightin' Irish alum, and you'd find him glued to the couch every Saturday with his children, watching his beloved football team.

Tom met the love of his life, Barbara (Kiejna) Unsworth and they married in 1965 in her hometown of Manchester, CT. Together they settled and fell in love with their new home in the Berkshires, where they built their family and found a community that became a second family.

A true romantic, Tom never stopped courting Barbara, "surprising" her every week with a bouquet of beautiful flowers.

Tom began his professional career teaching French at New Marlborough Academy, Lee Academy, and Bellefontaine IHS in Lenox before transitioning to a career in business and banking. He worked at Xerox and Berkshire County Savings Bank in Pittsfield before joining Lee Bank. Working closer to home, he enjoyed a decades-long career there, ultimately retiring as Senior Vice President in 2005.

Tom lived his life with unwavering integrity and unquestioned character, quietly demonstrating what it meant to be a devoted public servant through his roles on the Lee School Committee, Golf Course Study Committee, the Community Preservation Committee, and as a Town Representative and State Democratic delegate. Tom also served as a board member and Treasurer for the Lee Housing Authority and the Lee Library for many years.

He gave his time generously to St. Mary's Church and School as a Eucharistic Minister and Finance Chair; but his proudest title in town was 'Coach,' supporting his children through every interest they held - big or small.

Tom was a voracious reader often caught with several books in progress. When his children were young, he would make bedtime extra special by either creating his own handmade books, or reciting his own creative tales. A lifelong Red Sox fan and music lover (especially of Irish music, jazz, Buddy Holly, Elvis, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9), you could find him and Barbara every Sunday beneath 'their tree' at Tanglewood. He cherished his Sunday coffee with 'The Boys' and the memories made during Cape vacations.

Above all, Tom's greatest joy was his family, spending every possible opportunity to be with them. Extremely humble yet immensely proud, he was their biggest champion - never missing a game, concert, or milestone, and celebrating every accomplishment as if it were his own. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Barbara; his children, Thomas III, Andrew and his wife Marybeth, and Emily and her husband Tom; and his cherished grandchildren, Ryan, Matthew, Luke, Lucie, Stella, Eliza, and Theodore and many nieces and nephews. They truly were the lights of his life, as he so often reminded them - and he, theirs.

Go Irish!

Calling hours for Tom will take place from 4:00 - 6:00 pm on Wednesday, July 22 at Kelly Funeral Home in Lee, MA. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held in Tom's honor at 10:00 am on  Thursday, July 23 at St. Mary's Church in Lee.  Burial service will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Lee.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation, please consider donating to the Lee Library, or to his son Chris' Scholarship Foundation through Monument Mountain Regional High School at www.run4uns.com or in c/o the Kelly Funeral Home 3 Main Street Lee, MA  01238.

Chris Unsworth Scholarship Foundation
c/o Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street, Lee MA, MA
Web: http://www.run4uns.com

Lee Library Association
C/O Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee MA 01238