Brother Thomas M. Fahey, C.F.X. (Brother Keric)

The last surviving member of the novitiate class of 1954, Brother Thomas Fahey was born in Somerville, Massachusetts and started his education at the Immaculate Conception School in Malden-Medford, before his parents, his sister Joanne and he moved to Melrose. Tom and Joanne transferred to St. Mary’s School there and after he graduated from St. Mary’s, he returned to Malden and Boys’ Catholic High School where he met the Xaverian Brothers. Among Tom’s extracurricular activities during high school, he eagerly became the enthusiastic disk jockey for the girls back at St. Mary’s High School. Tom and several of his MC classmates traveled in July, 1954, to Brother Kevin’s novitiate at Old Point Comfort in Virginia where they became novices on September 8, and Tom became known as Brother Keric. Tom’s first year as a Xaverian was marked by tragedy when his father, Thomas, a milkman in Melrose, was killed in a traffic accident. Tom was allowed to return home for several days to be present for his mother, sister and family members at the wake and funeral of his dad.

After professing first vows in 1956, Keric and his classmates moved to Xaverian College in Silver Spring, Maryland to begin their college studies. In 1958, Tom was assigned to teach at St Teresa’s Elementary School in Brooklyn for four years, and then he was transferred to St. Joseph’s School in Oradell, New Jersey. In Oradell, he was able to continue college studies at Seton Hall University and later at St. John’s University, where he was awarded a B.S. in Mathematics in 1963.

In 1966, Tom was appointed Dean of Students at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury where he also taught mathematics and assisted with the aspirants at the Ryken Juniorate at St. John’s, while working towards his Master’s Degree from Columbia Teachers’ College in New York in 1967. The twenty-seven years he served as Dean of Students were marked by a wide variety of activities, ranging from Director of Camp St John’s in the summer and assistant in the high school’s broad athletic program, to good neighbor for families at St. John’s, speaker at the Novena of Grace at St. John’s Parish in Worcester, and Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the City and County of Worcester, with badge. Tom was not a quiet sedentary person, but spread his energy and generosity in many areas, often bursting into song! In 1992, he was recognized by St. John’s High for his Outstanding Contribution to Pioneer Athletics.

Tom moved to Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut in 1998, where he served as Director of Admissions for sixteen years, bringing the Xavier story in person or on the radio to the boys and families of south central Connecticut and thus increasing the school’s enrollment. His voice was also heard at a variety of Xavier sports events, and in 2011, Tom was inducted into the Xavier High School Hall of Honors. Tom’s Irish ancestry was never a secret, and his years in Middletown allowed him to become a very active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in nearby Meriden, receiving a plaque in 2002 for his years of dedicated service, awarded by the National President of the AOH, and later serving as Grand Marshall of their St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2013.

A serious fall in the Xavier gymnasium while announcing at a basketball game required him to retire to Xaverian House in Danvers in 2014. Although he was limited by his physical condition, Tom was able to volunteer at his alma mater, Malden Catholic, in 2015-2017, enthusiastically assisting with campus ministry and cafeteria duty two days a week, riding to Malden with Brother Thomas Lydon, another volunteer. Despite his good will, Tom’s weakened condition eventually required more attention than was available for him at Xaverian House. He moved in 2021 to Mary Immaculate Nursing Center in Lawrence where his booming singing voice delighted his fellow patients and the staff there. Early last Sunday morning, the Xaverian choir in heaven received its newest member, praising God with his heart and his voice. As he did for almost 90 years.

Prepared by Brother Robert J. Green, C.F.X.

Funeral Arrangements:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025
St. Richard Church
90 Forest Street
Danvers, Massachusetts 01923

9:30 Wake
10:30  Funeral Mass
12:00  Interment Xaverian Brothers’ Cemetery
on the Campus of St. John’s Preparatory School
Reception to follow