Thomas G. MacKoul, a native and lifelong resident of Worcester, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Dec. 18, after a short battle with cancer. He was 85 years old.
    Born on March 25, 1928, Mr. MacKoul was the son of George and Melvina (Kerban) MacKoul. He was raised with 10 siblings at the family’s triple-decker home on Wall Street, which would later become the first site of the El Morocco restaurant. The MacKouls were lifelong members of St. George Orthodox Cathedral.
      Mr. MacKoul, blessed with wisdom, a sharp memory, and precise attention for details ¬¬– both historically and personally — never failed to characterize his early family life as one filled with love and kindness. Although much of his childhood took place during the Depression years, Mr. MacKoul’s recollections of that time were fond. “We felt loved, and we were always happy,” he’d often say.
      A dedicated family man with a passion for history and sports, Mr. MacKoul served as an inspiration to others with his tireless work ethic and inner strength through considerable adversity. His philosophies on life, and the lessons he passed on to future generations took root during those early years of his upbringing. Much of his later life was lovingly devoted to his children and grandchildren.
      Mr. MacKoul attended Commerce High School before enlisting in the service in 1946, becoming a radio operator in the U.S. Army Air Corps aboard a B-29 Heavy Bomber during the post-World War II era. He was deployed overseas in the Pacific, spending considerable time in the Philippines before he was honorably discharged in 1948.
      After returning from the service, Mr. MacKoul was employed at General Electric Telecron Company in Ashland, and became a plastics engineer. He and his family also owned and operated the Wall Street Social Club for many years. He later founded and operated Turn Key Plastics in Rochdale for 40 years before his retirement.
      Mr. MacKoul met Maria Chotras in Reno in 1948, and the two were married that year. Mrs. MacKoul died in 1997. They had four sons – Richard, Thomas, Nicholas, Mark – and one daughter, Paula. Mr. MacKoul was preceded in death by sons Nicholas in 1986, and Mark in 2012.
      He is survived by son Richard MacKoul and his wife Valerie, of Grafton, son Thomas and his wife, Carol, of Mission Viejo, Calif., daughter Paula Cofman and her husband, Mark, of Hull, and daughter-in-law Jamie MacKoul of Worcester; one brother, John MacKoul, and three sisters, Helen Isaac, Adele Metta, and Margaret Stuart; eight grandchildren, Corrina, Jesse, Mary, Thomas, Adam, Candace, Cameron, and Giana. He also leaves a great grandson, Tyler, and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
      Six siblings preceded Mr. MacKoul in death – Mary Mitchell, Ann Coury, E. Louis, Nicholas, Michael, and Joseph MacKoul.
      Calling hours for Mr. MacKoul will take place between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday December 22nd at the Mercadante Funeral Home and Chapel, 370 Plantation Street in Worcester. On Monday, December 23rd there will be calling hours between 10 am and 10:45 am at Saint George Orthodox Cathedral, 30 Anna St., in Worcester. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial with Military Honors will take place at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint George Orthodox Cathedral Building Fund.