Thomas E. Boston, 43, of Naperville, a vice president of national accounts for Jones Pharma Inc. of St. Louis, died Sunday, March 26, in Orlando.
Mr. Boston’s work as a pharmaceutical representative took him to a number of Chicago hospitals, notably Cook County Hospital, where he was remembered as an easygoing and competent professional.
Mr. Boston’s wish as a child was to be a drummer, a dream that took him to Indiana University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in music. Growing up in Farmington, Mich., he was mesmerized by Chrysler Corp.’s marching band, said his mother, Jean Boston. “From age 8, he wanted to be a musician,” she said.
While in high school, Mr. Boston studied percussion with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. An industrious student, Mr. Boston financed his college education by driving a soft-drink truck.
“Tom said those years studying music and performing in front of audiences helped him immensely with his career in sales,” said his wife, Karen.
Though a fan of the Big 10 and an enthusiastic golfer, Mr. Boston’s passion was entertaining and cooking for family and friends in his Naperville home, said his mother.
“He was a bear of a man, and people just liked him,” his mother said.
A family man above all, Mr. Boston was a man of deep faith, said his wife. “He was a good husband, a good father and a good friend to many people.”
Mr. Boston was born in Oak Park.
Mr. Boston’s survivors also include a son, David; a daughter, Megan; two brothers, Robert and Jim; a sister, Sue Hutyra; his parents-in-law; three sisters-in-law; aunts; uncles; nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 117 W. Van Buren Ave., Naperville. Services will be at 9:15 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with mass at 10 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Rd., Naperville.
