Thomas Joseph Minichiello

Thomas Joseph Minichiello passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 1, 2019. He was born in Concord, New Hampshire on May 9, 1924. He was the fourth and last child born to John and Rose (nee: Blasi) Minichiello,

After graduation from Concord High School, Tom attended the University of New Hampshire. He left school as his mother needed his help. He would walk miles to help tend the family garden or pick wild berries and help take produce and fruit to be sold at Farmers Markets. He would share fond memories of his mother’s cooking, the trips to the markets in Boston’s Little Italy and how much he enjoyed fly fishing in his leisure time.

When WWII broke out, and against his mother’s wishes, Tom enlisted in the Navy and served as a Fireman First Class the last 18 months of the war. For a brief time he was assigned to a shipyard but spent the majority of his service on Palmyra Atoll, which was an auxiliary airstrip in the Pacific Ocean. He would regale everyone with his memories of all the birds, the Blacktip Sharks and the giant Coconut Crabs. As a seafood lover, he was upset, once back in the US, to learn he could have eaten them.

On January 20, 1951, Tom married the love of his life, Catherine (nee: Teare). They had three sons. They were happily married for 56 years before Kay passed away December 29, 2007.

In 1942, Tom became a surveyor for the New Hampshire Highway Department when there was a sum total of 7 employees. As the State grew, Tom studied and became a Civil Engineer. The department became known as the New Hampshire Department of Transportation which now has over 8000 employees. During his tenure, he served as the Treasurer of the State Chapter of the Employees Association. Tom retired after 38 years of service.

During the time Tom lived in New Hampshire, he was also an active member of the Concord JC’s and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.

To escape the harsh winters of New Hampshire, once he retired, Tom and Kay then moved to Phoenix in 1981 where Tom became a Specifications Writer for the Arizona Department of Transportation for 9 years.

Tom was a Life Member of the Fraternal Order of the Elks holding many committee positions in both New Hampshire and Arizona, some as the Chairman. His favorite committee chairmanship was the Elks sponsored Bingo games at the Arizona State Veterans Nursing Home.

Tom was a proud member of the Military Family Support Group where he loved packing boxes for active military stationed overseas. Until his health failed, he would never miss their weekly social luncheons.

Tom and Kay were members of the Episcopal Church in Concord and All Saints Episcopal Church in Phoenix for decades where Tom could be found ushering on Sunday mornings. Both Tom and Kay were active members in several of the Church’s adult social groups. While still living in New Hampshire, Tom began studying to be a Deacon but life got in the way and he never finished his studies.

Tom passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 1, 2019. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his siblings (Mary, Angelo, Anthony). He is survived by his sons: Jim (Laurie) of Dunnellon, FL; Steve (Cherrie Hill) of Phoenix and Mike (Jean) of Merrimack, NH; four grandchildren: CaSandra (Kristy Bartholomew), Maria Johanian (Steve), Sean and Gina; one great grandchild, Amanda Oliviera (Victor); a sister-in-law (Pearl) and several nephews.