Cape Cod Loses Champion: Tom Cahir Remembered

Sad farewell to key community member who shaped the Cape

Who was Tom Cahir?

14 March 2025 - CAPE COD, MA -

Cape Cod lost a true champion this week when Tom Cahir, administrator of the cape cod regional transit authority died suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 12.

Thomas S. Cahir, 72, helped shape policy politics and interactions on Cape Cod wearing many hats over the decades : member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for 14 years - representing the 3rd Barnstable District - deputy secretary for transportation programs in the statehouse, and - for the past 16 years - administrator of the CCRTA

Over the decades in his varied roles he shaped commuter rail expansion and infrastructure improvements, proved seasonal rail service could be a resounding success, and led the CCRTA toward a zero emissions future.

He was a perfect example of the kind of person who weaves together experiences in ways that create a magnificent tapestry:
A child of Bourne deeply rooted in cape cod.

A baseball player who never forgot the value of team.

A politician who believed in the democratic process.

A public servant who proved that policy can make people and places stronger and healthier together.

Yes. Together. Together was a key tenet in how Tom worked. I don't think we ever did an interview in which he didn’t take time to thank and credit his team - singling out each person and citing their contributions. It was never about him. It was always about the collaborative us.

He took that same approach to all of the projects he worked with across the community, finding ways to solve problems by uniting people into a shared effort for the betterment of all of Cape Cod.

Through that work he built - as he liked to say - an Integrated, multi-modal transport network - one that worked to seamlessly connect bus, train, boat, and bicycle traffic. In doing so he dared to be creative, collaborative and show how cape cod could lead the way.

Perhaps his work stands not only as a series of quantifiable achievements, but also as a metaphor for the potential of a Cape Cod that he believed in, a cape cod he knew we could all build together.

We will miss you, Tom, and thank you for everything you’ve done.