Stephen J. Toomey

Stephen J. Toomey, 80, of Worcester and Provincetown, a gifted artist, died on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the UMass-Memorial Medical Center University Campus.

Stephen is survived by his brothers, Daniel S. Toomey and his wife Patricia M. Burke Toomey and Joseph M. Toomey and his wife Gayle Perkins Toomey of Worcester, his sisters, Sister Maureen Toomey SNDdeN of Windsor, CT, Sister Cathleen Toomey RSM of North Smithfield, RI, Clare J. Toomey Sullivan and her husband Barry R. Sullivan of Worcester; seven nieces, twelve nephews, 34 grandnieces and grandnephews, 5 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and numerous Toomey and Foley cousins.

He was born in Worcester, son of the late John A. and Irene E. (Foley) Toomey. He was predeceased by his sisters Anne I. Toomey Cahill and Margaret M. Toomey Bennett and his brother James E. Toomey, and his nephews Thomas P. Sullivan and Christopher Toomey, his grandparents Richard A. and Helen Keenan Toomey, and Dr. Timothy J. and A. Irene Morris Foley, as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Stephen graduated from Blessed Sacrament Grammar School in 1958, St. John’s High School in 1962 and Merrimack College in 1966. After college, he immersed himself in the study of art painting for which he already had a longtime interest. He began with training in realism at the Fenway Studios in Boston.

Steve later moved to New York City to join the artistic staff at Marvel Comics. Under the inspiration of Stan Lee, he was an inker working with many talented cartoonists at Marvel. After several years in New York, he returned to Worcester to accept a teaching position in the Art Department at Assumption University.

After retiring from teaching, Steve continued with his passion for painting by joining the art colony in Provincetown. He spent half of the year studying his craft and producing a large body of work. Like most young artists, in order to pay the bills, Steve had a second job working as a sous chef at Sal’s Place. He was a member of the Beachcombers Club where he enjoyed spending time with his many friends. He spent his winters in Worcester where he would paint in his Randolph Road studio.

Steve’s last project was to produce copies of several of the paintings that were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. The paintings were used as props in the movie “The Art Thief” which was produced by his friend Arthur Egeli. Steve said that he made a few changes to the paintings so that he would never be accused of forgery.

Calling hours are Friday, February 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The funeral Mass will be Saturday, February 15, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Assumption University, 500 Salisbury St., Worcester. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John’s High School, 378 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.