Brother Thomas P. Lydon

Brother Thomas P. Lydon, C.F.X., 87, died peacefully on December 10, 2021 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House. He was a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier for seventy years. Born in New York City on Jan. 14, 1934, he was the son of Thomas and Anne (Cahill) Lydon. He was raised in the Bronx and attended Cardinal Hayes High School, where he was first introduced to the Xaverian Brothers. He transferred to the Saint Joseph Juniorate in Peabody, graduating in 1951. On September 19, 1951, entered the Congregation at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, Fort Monroe, Virginia. The following year, he received the holy habit, taking the religious name Brother Cephas. Brother Thomas received his bachelor’s degree in 1957 from Catholic University and in 1966 received a master’s degree from Fordham University, both in biology. His teaching ministry began at Cardinal Hayes High School, where he served from 1957-1959 and again from 1964-1969. He taught at Saint John’s Prep in Danvers from 1959-1964 and at Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury from 1971-1980. From 1980-2001, he was a teacher and staff member at Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, NJ. In 2001, he joined the staff of Malden Catholic High School, first working in the business office and then at various assignments throughout the school, always willing to complete any task. He was honored at Malden Catholic in 2008 with the Theodore James Ryken Award and in 2015 he received the Bishop Cheverus Award from Cardinal Sean O’Malley for service in the Archdiocese of Boston. In addition to his brothers in religion, he leaves three siblings, Rita Whelton of the Bronx, NY, Moreen Browne of Columbia, MD, and Donald Lydon of Deer Park, NY, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings James, Marie, John, and Joseph. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 11AM in the Chapel of Saint John’s Preparatory School, 72 Spring St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Xaverian Brothers Cemetery, Danvers. Visitation will be prior to Mass beginning at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brother Thomas’ memory may be made to the Xaverian Brothers Retirement Fund, 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229. Arrangements are by C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square.