Thomas J. Downes, 45, of Columbia, CT passed away suddenly on Wednesday (October 24, 20120). Tom was stricken doing what he loved, working the ball fields of Trinity College and was pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital a short time later. He was the beloved husband of Eileen (Stamm) Downes who made her heart sing. Tom was born in Hartford and lived there until the family moved to Manchester in 1968 and in 2000 moved to Columbia. He loved sports and played American Football, Gaelic Football and basketball. He was an avid Yankee, NY Giants, Celtics and UCONN Fan. Tom was a gifted artist who created and presented numerous greeting cards to family and friends with different embellishments. He also had a great love for music, was an avid fan of Bruce Springsteen, having attended many of his concerts. Besides his loving wife, he is survived by his children Justin Downes, Kelsey Downes, AJ Flemke; his grandchildren JT Downes and Mariah Flemke; and his parents Tom and Rita Downes of Manchester. He is also survived by his brother Michael Downes and his wife Donna, their children Grace and Sarah, his mother-in-law Jean Desrosiers, brother-in-law James Stamm and his wife Dena, their children Kyle and Matthew, his Uncle Brendan Downes and his wife Jean, their children Tim, Kathy and Mike, his Aunt Mary Burke and her daughters Mary, Kathy and Eileen, and many other close relatives in Ireland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Monday (October 29th) at the Church of the Assumption 29 Adams St. South, Manchester followed by burial in St. James Cemetery, Manchester. Please go directly to church. Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester on Sunday from 4-8 pm. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.