About Tom—Tom Smith in his own words (The Sackett Family Association Newsletter July 2004)
I was born in Poughkeepsie, NY on October 29, 1943. It was in this area of Dutchess County that I spent the first 25 years of my life. My wife Toni and I were married shortly after graduation from F.D. Roosevelt High School in 1964 and have two great children, son Tom and daughter Toni Marie.
In 1968 we decided to forsake the humidity of the Hudson River Valley for the humidity of the Connecticut shoreline and moved to the New Haven area. Except for a short “working vacation” in Albuquerque, NM in 1979-1980, we have remained in CT in the small shoreline community of Clinton, in a log home we built as a family project in 1987. I presently serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Republican Town Committee, and Building Committee for a new Police Headquarters and have been the Clinton, CT coordinator for our 2nd District Congressman, for the last two election cycles. I have worked for a restoration company in New Haven for 36 years, presently as an Estimator and have represented my company as an officer in several trade organizations both locally and nationally.
I attended The University of New Haven, studying Business Administration and History and have attended classes of interest throughout my life. I’m on the Board of Trustees for the Godfrey Memorial Library, a genealogical library in Middletown, CT, belong to the Clinton Historical Society, CT Society of Genealogists, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Sons of Union Veterans, Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants, 1650-1700 and of course TSFA.
I enjoy traveling, especially in the Caribbean and Toni and I are avid scuba divers. I served as a Dive Master at a local shop for several years and I’m certified as a Master Diver. When not chasing dead relatives or sharks, I enjoy gardening, reading (especially historical novels), antiques, because they are older than me, and spending time with my two grandchildren, Christopher, age 15 and Brittany, age 14.