Although born in New Hampshire, Tom’s family moved to Maine when he was 10 years old and, except for a few years, Maine has been his home ever since. Tom and his wife, Cynthia moved to Waterville shortly after they were married in 1969. For 54 years they have called Waterville home. They have three children and four grandchildren, of whom they are both very proud. After graduating from high school in Winthrop, Tom joined the United States Marine Corps and served on active duty for three years and was then released to the Marine Corps Reserve. Having decided to pursue a career in higher education, he moved to New York City where he earned a Ph.D. at Columbia University. Tom was actively involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

In 1969 Tom joined the Colby College faculty and remained on the faculty until his retirement in 2002. He taught Biblical languages and literature and engaged in archaeological excavations in Israel. While teaching at Colby he was involved in the community as a firefighter and an EMS first responder. Tom also served on numerous boards of local organizations including the Opera House Improvement Association and the Mid-Maine Global Forum. After retiring from Colby, he served on the Waterville City Council and in the Maine State House of Representatives. In 2020 Tom received the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Tom is currently on the Board of Directors of Kennebec Behavioral Health, a member of the Rotary Club in Waterville and a member of Kennebec /Somerset Coalition Against Sex Trafficking, Labor and Exploitation (CASTLE).