DRISCOLL, THOMAS H.

Thomas H. Driscoll, a Swampscott town selectman, died of a heart attack Sunday [August 13, 1989] at Salem Hospital. He was 74.

Mr. Driscoll was serving his third term as a selectman. He was formerly a Ward 6 city councilor in Lynn and was the former director of the Lynn Housing Authority.

Formerly, he was a legal counsel for the city of Boston under Mayor John Collins. He was also a former legislative counsel for Boston’s Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Federation of Nursing Homes and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Association.

Born in Lynn, he graduated from Lynn Classical High School and Holy Cross College. In 1939, he graduated from Boston College Law School.

He was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Swampscott Rotary Club. He was past commander at the William P. Connery Jr. American Legion in Lynn and the Leon F. Abbott American Legion in Swampscott.

Mr. Driscoll, a recovered alcoholic, was a member of the North Shore Council on Alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous, where he helped many people overcome alcoholism. He served on Gov. Edward King’s Council on Alcoholism.

During World War II, Mr. Driscoll served in the Marine Corps and received the Purple Heart. After four years in active service, he retired as a major in the reserves. Mr. Driscoll was in the First Marine Raider Battalion, called Edson’s Raiders, and remained active in that association.

Mr. Driscoll leaves his wife, Joan A. (Gillis); three daughters, Maryanne of Glen Cove, N.Y., Martha Cesarz of Swampscott and Rosemary L. of Wellesley; two sons, James W. of Tempe, Ariz., Thomas H. Jr. of Swampscott; a sister, Louise Flynn of Nahant; three stepchildren, Maura, Christopher and Brendan Coyle, all of Swampscott; and six grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow in St. John the Evangelist Church, Swampscott. Burial will be in Swampscott Cemetery.