Thomas Edward Williams

January 30, 1934 – December 23, 2022

Thomas Edward Williams, 88, died amid declining health on December 23, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Tom was born in Denver during the height of the Great Depression. As a native Coloradan with family roots in the state dating back more than a century, he came to love nature and the outdoors at a young age. By the time he turned 3, he was already skiing. Growing up, he enjoyed skeet shooting and pheasant, duck and goose hunting and was an avid fisherman. A lifelong favorite fishing spot was Trappers Lake in the White River National Forest of northwestern Colorado. He was also passionate about horseback riding and wrangling. In 2002, his love of horses led to a role as an “extra” in the film “Seabiscuit.”

Aside from these outdoor pursuits, Tom was a sports enthusiast who played football, basketball and baseball, as well as wrestled, in his youth. He carried a love of sports with him throughout his life, skiing, golfing, bowling and playing baseball and tennis until his later years. Other favorite pastimes included woodworking and oil painting. He was an accomplished musician who played the piano and trumpet, with musical tastes ranging from Van Cliburn to the Kingston Trio and from Al Hirt to Nat King Cole.

Tom was an only child whose family moved frequently during his childhood owing to his father’s profession as a chemist and mining engineer and his mother’s fragile health. His academic gifts were apparent at an early age, culminating in his being awarded a full-ride scholarship to Harvard College after graduating in 1952 from Wheat Ridge High School. Arriving at Harvard in blue jeans and cowboy boots, he left in a crimson cap and gown in 1956 with an undergraduate degree in physics. While at Harvard, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and married his first wife. Years later, he “paid it forward” as a contributor to the Harvard Scholarship Fund.

Following his graduation from Harvard, Tom returned to Denver and a career in the defense industry, first working in sales at Sunstrand Corporation, an aerospace and industrial products manufacturer. In 1966, he and his first wife divorced, and he moved to Phoenix to take a job at turboprop engine maker Garrett AiResearch, which produced component parts for the F-15 fighter jet, a point of pride for Tom.

After a decade there, his last role as manager of power systems sales, in 1977 Tom and his then-wife moved to Ballston Lake in upstate New York, where he accepted a position as director of marketing, research and development division, at Mechanical Technology Incorporated, a manufacturer of testing equipment for aerospace customers and the U.S. military. In 1985, Tom, by then vice president of corporate development, left MTI to return to Arizona and a position at Honeywell Aerospace, a maker of aircraft engines and avionics, as program director for regional airline auxiliary power units. He retired from Honeywell in 1997. During his successful career, he traveled extensively for business, both in the U.S. and abroad, including to China, Israel, Europe and Australia.

Tom and his wife, Olivette, were married in 1987. Dividing their time between homes in Arizona and New York, they shared a love of reading, golf, skiing and travel. Like his parents, Tom had a passion for classical music, which he and Olivette frequently indulged by attending summertime classical music concerts at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. During the cooler months, their longtime membership at Mesa (Arizona) Country Club afforded them the opportunity to both enjoy the company of friends and golf to their hearts’ content. Tom also served as president of the Arizona Seniors Golf Association.

Despite humble beginnings and the loss of his mother at a young age, Tom led a full and active life. Those who knew him—whether family, friends or work colleagues—were drawn to his outgoing personality, obvious intelligence and good humor. He made those around him feel important.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Edward T. and Grace C. Shideler-Williams, as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins with whom he grew up. He is survived by Olivette, his beloved wife of 35 years, and children Deborah Williams, Bonnie Williams Nikolas (Craig/“Nik”), Edward Williams, Laurie Williams Sadler (Joel) and Wendy Williams Skree. His grandchildren include Jeremy Mason, Alyssa Nikolas Riley (Connor), Rachel Nikolas, Nicole Williams, Brandon Williams, McKenzie Sadler, Dawson Skree, Savannah Skree and great granddaughter, Reese.

A celebration of life service for Tom will take place at Mesa Country Club, 660 W. Fairway Drive, on Friday, January 20, 2023, at 3 p.m. He will be interred in a private ceremony near his parents at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakeshoreMort.com for the Williams family.