Thomas Nalle Lea

Tom grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where he lived on his family’s working farm. He enjoyed spending time with his standard poodle, Babbette, and playing hockey and soccer. At age 12, he enrolled at St Paul’s school in Concord, New Hampshire, where he eventually graduated from high school in 1966. Throughout his childhood, Tom spent summers with his family in Tenants Harbor, Maine. He enjoyed his time in Maine so much that he chose to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, class of 1970, where he majored in government. At Bowdoin, he competed on the varsity hockey and soccer teams. He also enjoyed competitive sailing throughout college and well into his 30’s. He remained in Maine for the rest of his life.

After college, he started a career in banking where he spent the next five decades, eventually settling into commercial lending. Tom also earned his MBA from University of Southern Maine in 1980. He finished his career in 2013 as Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending for Northern New England at People’s United Bank in Portland. He was also President of the Maine Real Estate and Development Association.

In 1979, Tom met his wife, Dale, in Portland, and they married a year later. Together, they had two children, born in the early 1980’s. In his spare time, Tom enjoyed golfing and gardening. He had quite the green thumb, and in his prime maintained numerous flower beds and vegetable gardens around his family home in Cumberland. He was a member of the Portland Country Club for nearly 50 years, where he served on several committees. He also volunteered for many years at the Shalom House in Portland, which provides community-based support for adults living with mental illness.

Tom was well loved by the people closest to him and was known for his sense of humor and gregarious personality. He was very proud of his children and his wife's successful career in public health and genomics.

Tom was predeceased by his wife, Dale Halsey Lea, and his siblings, Ann Fries and Biff Lea.

He is survived by his children, Allison and Halsey Lea, as well as his daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

Tom’s ashes will be buried in the St. Mary’s Episopal Churchyard cemetery in Falmouth.

In lieu of flowers or cards, please make a donation to the Shalom House (www.shalomhouseinc.org).