Shutesbury, Thomas F. Houston died April 24, 2017 after a brief illness. He was born in Greenfield on January 2, 1944. Tom attended Amherst High School, where he graduated in 1962. After high school, he went on to serve in the US Marine Corps from 1962-1965 where he was made a Corporal. Tom received his Associate Degree from Stockbridge School of Agriculture in 1967. He then received his Bachelors, Masters, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Tom taught Arboriculture and Urban Forestry at UMass for 32 years. He was a certified arborist and served as president of the NE chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture in the 1980s. Tom was also active in the Franklin County Sportsman Club where he served as president in 2012. Tom was an avid tennis player and enjoyed both salt and freshwater fishing.

Tom was predeceased by his mother Esther Houston Cornish and his father Frederick Houston. He leaves behind his loving wife of 47 years, Diane, and their two Standard Poodles, Rowan and Jordan. He also leaves his sister Nancy Pearce of Williamsburg, VA, his niece Laurie Hager and husband Chris, grandniece Elizabeth, and grandnephew Daniel Hager, all of Williamsburg, VA. He leaves his nephew Dan Pearce and wife Tracy of Acton, MA and their son Alex. He also leaves a brother-in-law Kevin Laxer and wife Claudia of Stonington, CT and his niece Lorri Ann Souza and husband Barry of Bethlehem, NH.

Donations may be made in Tom’s name to Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, PO Box 132, Leeds, MA 01053 or to Jackson Laboratories, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.

Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com