Thomas P. Reynolds Obituary – Former Middlebury resident, dispatcher

#MIDDLEBURY

Friend to everyone

Thomas P. Reynolds, a loyal and loving husband, father, and friend, was called to heaven on Wednesday, Sept. 28. He was 64.

The son of the late Thomas P. Reynolds Sr. and Rita Reynolds, Tom grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1971.

For 37 years, Tom set the standard for all husbands as the devoted partner and best friend to his wife, Joanne. They were married in September 1979 in Larchmont, N.Y.

Tom’s work in the beverage industry brought him to Woodbury, Conn., in 1982 as warehouse manager for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Waterbury. Tom worked for Coca-Cola for 27 years, of which 25 were spent as a tractor-trailer driver. In 1983, Tom and Joanne relocated to Middlebury, where they would start a family and reside for 30 years.

Tom would do anything for his two daughters, Caitlin and Meghan. Tom’s pride and love for his “girls” was always evident. Tom notably served as a police dispatcher in Middlebury for 18 years, beginning in 1995. He took tremendous pride in protecting the residents of Middlebury, but also importantly protecting the police officers, volunteer firefighters, and other first responders he dispatched, many of whom became his dearest friends.

Tom was delighted when he and Joanne moved back to Woodbury in November 2013.  Tom found time to enjoy his varied hobbies and interests. Tom loved animals, and doted on his dogs, Charlotte and Rudy. He spoiled his Rhode Island Reds and took great joy in giving eggs from “Tom’s Three Hen Farm” to friends. If not outside working in his barn, yard or garden, he would gaze out the window and admire the beauty of God’s creation.

Prior to his return to full-time employment, Tom worked at Country Spirit Shop in Woodbury, Conn., a job that allowed him to engage with people and practice his gift of gab. In March 2016, Tom began to work for H.I. Stone in Southbury, Conn., a job he took great pride in. He was committed to represent the company with professionalism and dedication. Tom loved his job and felt very fortunate to be part of such a wonderful, well-respected family company.

Tom’s legacy of love, laughter and goodness is survived by his many friends and his family: his wife, Joanne Reynolds of Woodbury; his daughter Caitlin Reynolds Marian and son-in-law, Michael Marian, of Manhattan; his daughter Meghan Reynolds of West Hartford, Conn.; his sister Rose-Ellen Racanelli and her husband, Frank, of Marina del Rey, Calif.; his sister Rita Reise and her husband, Jim, of Jamestown, R.I.; his sister Kathleen Irwin of Destin, Fla.; his most beloved cousin Maureen Regan and her husband, Alex Clark, of Manhattan, and his three nieces and five nephews who affectionately called him “UT” for Uncle Tommy. He is also is survived by 15 great-nieces and great-nephews and several cousins.

Calling hours will be Thursday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home at 2 School St. in Woodbury. The funeral mass will be Friday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m.at St. Teresa of Avila’s Catholic Church in Woodbury.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the following charities in Tom’s memory:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving at MADD National Office, 511 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700, Irving, TX 75062 (www.madd.org) or Social Tees Animal Rescue, 325 East 5th St., New York, NY 10003 (www.socialteesnyc.org/donate).

Online condolences can be left for the family at www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.