Amherst, Ma. Thomas Baker Aldrich passed away unexpectedly on June 27th, after a long illness.

“Tommy” as many of his friends and family called him, served in the US Navy as a Petty Officer 3^rd Class on the USS Willis E. Lee from 1956-1960 as a Radarman. Initiated as a “Bluenose”, he traveled all throughout the Mediterranean, Cuba, the Caribbean, and the North Pole and was exceptionally proud of his service in the Navy. After his enlistment he went to work at the University of Massachusetts as a mason.  He retired with 40 + years of service and served in the Masonic Temple as a Grand Master in the Amherst chapter.

Tom led a colorful and unique life, doing it “HIS” way. He loved everything nature, and all that he did was with true passion and grit. If he wanted to learn about something, he wanted to know it all. From building a cabin in the woods, mushroom scavenging, going to Rendezvous – the reenactment of the French and Indian war, the annual pilgrimage to the blue grass festival with his tee pee and hand hewed poles, the Red Sox and fishing were just a few things that he enjoyed doing with his brothers, his children and friends. He was a great storyteller and remembered the small details to tales from long ago. Tom took pride in being one of the founding members of the Woodlot gang in Pelham.

He was predeceased by his parents Schuyler Aldrich and Verne Harvey Aldrich and survived by his two children, Timothy Aldrich (Sunderland, MA) and Kim Aldrich (Pine Island, NY), two brothers, Melvin Brook Aldrich & Gregory Aldrich, his grandchildren: Skyler Aldrich, Jake O’Shea & Leah O’Shea, and nieces and nephews, Julie Aldrich Woynar, Jake Aldrich, Taylor Aldrich, Mark Aldrich and Michelle Aldrich, and a great grandchild, Sean Aldrich.

At Tom’s request there will be no public calling hours.