Thomas J. McParland

Thomas J. McParland, 89, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on February 22, 2024.   He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle, as well as a humble but highly respected business leader, mentor and friend to many.

Tom was predeceased by one month by Marge (nee Short), his wife of 66 years, and previously by his sister Maureen Rogers.   Tom is survived by his children: Thomas Jr. (Jeanne), Robert (Jennifer), Patricia (John Cabral) and Susan O’Reilly; and by eight grandchildren.

Born in Philadelphia in 1934 to Thomas P. McParland and Alice G. McParland (nee Garrity), Tom attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and St. Joseph’s University from which he graduated in 1956 with a B.S. in Accounting.  Upon graduation, Tom joined the Philadelphia office of KPMG predecessor Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. where he would spend his entire career except for two years’ service in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959.  In 1967, he transferred to Allentown, Pennsylvania to open a local office and was elected Partner in 1968.  In 1973, he transferred to the Firm’s office in Madrid, Spain where he served as the managing partner of the Firm’s Spanish operations, responsible for offices in Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao, and was a member of the Firm’s European Board of Directors.    In 1978, Tom and Marge were delighted to transfer back to their hometown of Philadelphia where Tom managed KPMG’s Audit department until his retirement in 1990.

In retirement, Tom was able to devote more time to his passions:  travel, golf, friends, service to others and family.     In many instances these passions overlapped.  For example, friends he made serving as a volunteer board member in Spain fifty years ago became the “Four Amigos”, lifelong traveling companions and golf buddies.  Tom was an avid golfer whose rigorous professional travel requirements afforded him the chance to play many courses around the US and abroad.   He was a member of Aronimink Golf Club for the past 45 years.

Tom served as a board member, treasurer or advisor for many not-for-profit organizations including St. Joseph’s Prep and St. Joseph’s University and was a contributor to dozens more.

Most important was Tom’s love, friendship and dedication to his beloved wife Marge, his children and grandchildren with whom he traveled, dined, golfed, solved math puzzles or just hung out and had a good time.

Relatives and friends are invited on March 2, 2024 for visitation from 10-10:45 AM, followed by Mass at 11AM at the St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel, 1229 East Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr PA 19010. Interment Private.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations in Tom’s memory to Amigos de Jesus, PO Box 476, Malvern PA 19355-9998 (amigosdejesus.org – not affiliated with the “Four Amigos”) or St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, 1733 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19130.

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