FARMINGDALE – Thomas A. Longfellow, 76, of Farmingdale passed away unexpectedly at his home, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005. He was born July 8, 1928, in Machias, a son of Thomas Sr. and Marguerite Cooper Longfellow. He was a 1946 graduate of Machias High School. After attending Washington State Normal School and The University of Maine at Orono, he received a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in mathematics. He later received his master’s degree in administration from the University of Hartford in Connecticut. He taught for several years at Beals High School on Beals Island. While there, he coached the Beals High School basketball team to a 1952 class S State Championship. He then wed Nancy Pinkham in 1952. Shortly after, he became principal at Jonesboro High School before moving on to the same position at Machias High School. After moving to Connecticut in 1959, he became a teaching vice principal at RHAM High School until 1967, when he returned to Maine. He became deputy director of the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation in Augusta. He retired in 1984 and continued to live in Farmingdale until the present time. He was an avid sports fan and after a lifetime of waiting, saw his Red Sox win the World Series. After retiring he became very involved with family Genealogy. He has always been very proud of all his children and grandchildren and delighted in becoming a spectator at their many sporting events; from gymnastics to hockey, baseball to basketball. He was a very kindhearted, gentle man and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy Pinkham Longfellow of Farmingdale; three children, Dan Longfellow and his wife, Susan, of Wiscasset, Linda Christie and her husband, Tom, of Dedham, and Melissa Madden and her husband, Matt, of Lewiston; two sisters, Pauline Browne of Jacksonville, Fla. and Katherine Wall of Riverview, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Danny and Chandler Longfellow, Tyler and Kyra Wiley, Nicholas Christie, Christopher and Abby Madden and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2005, at Old South Congregational Church, Second Street, Hallowell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund, care of Old South Congregational Church, P.O. Box 508, Hallowell, ME 04347. Arrangements are under the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner.
THOMAS A. LONGFELLOW
