Remembering Tom Cahir: The 'epitome' of a what a public servant should be
Those are the words people are using to describe Thomas Cahir, longtime administrator of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, after his sudden death on March 12.
The cause of his death has not been released.
'He was one of a kind and the epitome of what a public servant should strive to be,' wrote Bourne's Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Carrara Jr. in a March 13 email.
Carrara saw Cahir's work ethic in action during his time as state representative for Barnstable 3rd District. Carrara worked for Cahir during and after college, and the two developed a strong friendship.
'I truly consider him to be family,' Carrara wrote.
Cahir was one of Peter Meier's mentors when he was a young man just getting started in politics. Meier joined the Bourne Democratic Town Committee when he got out of college. He's been on the select board and other town committees ever since he first ran for office in 1996. Much of what he's learned about serving constituents came from Cahir.
'He taught me the value of constituent service and to listen to the people,' Meier said in a telephone call March 13. 'He made sure every Friday he had office hours in his district. He'd say 'I can't fix everything but at least they know we listened, we'll do our research and get back to them. You don't want to ignore the people that you work for.''
Cahir was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1985, following in the footsteps of his father, Jeremiah. The Democratic representative served the 3rd Barnstable District for 14 years until 1999. During that time, he served on and chaired the Joint Committee on Transportation.
In 1999 Cahir became the Deputy Secretary for Transportation Programs at the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works. His office was responsible for the operation of the 15 Regional Transit Authorities in Massachusetts and a $140 million budget. In 2009 he was named administrator of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority.
In a March 13 telephone interview, Barnstable County Commissioner Mark Forest recalled his long working relationship with Cahir. The men met in 1985 when Forest was working for US Rep. Gerry Studds and Cahir was launching his political career.
'He's known as Mr. Transportation; that's a title that's rightly deserved,' Forest said. But Cahir's impact went well beyond transportation, he added. 'He's had as profound an effect on this region as anybody.'
Cahir played a key legislative role in getting the Cape Cod Land Bank passed, Forest said. The act saved thousands of acres of land on Cape Cod and was the precursor to the Community Preservation Act.
Cahir was instrumental in the passage of legislation regarding the Barnstable County government charter, Forest said. And he was dogged in advocating for his constituents whether it was state, federal or local government issues.
'He came of age politically when if you represented people, you gave it your all on behalf of them,' Forest said. 'The job wasn't about you; it was about serving the community. That's part of Tommy's ethos, his DNA.'
Kathy Jensen, deputy administrator for the Transit Authority, called Cahir's loss — and legacy — immeasurable. In a March 13 email, she called Cahir a leader, mentor, problem solver and true friend.
'He taught me so much,' she wrote, 'not just about work, but about how to truly make an impact and get things done. He led by example, showing what it means to be dedicated, compassionate, and unwavering in the pursuit of solutions.'
'Our hearts go out to the countless people whose lives he made better just by being in them,' she wrote. 'He will be profoundly missed.'
Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape's residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com .
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Tom Cahir remembered by Cape Cod as dedicated public servant, leader
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