Thomas Jewell Eaton of Vero Beach, Florida and formerly of Norwich, New York passed away November 10, 2018.
Born in Norwich, New York on August 24, 1926, Tom was the son of Melvin Carr Eaton and Ethel Jewell Eaton. Tom is survived by his wife of 38 years, Theodora Moses Eaton and by the mother of his children, Annette Ruby Eaton; his children, Thomas J. Jr. and wife Mary, Robert S. and wife Carol, Kathryn E and husband Peter Flanagan, Melvin C. II and wife Sandy, Paul R. and wife Agnes, Andrew C. and wife Dawn along with 27 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren. He was predeceased by son William W. Eaton.
He is remembered as generous, jovial, entertaining and always on time. A good guy to know.
He attended the Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY, the University of Michigan, Syracuse University, and Babson College.
Tom acquired his pilot’s license at 16 years of age and shortly thereafter his Glider Pilot license. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1945 and post war joined the Soaring Society of America and served as a Crew Chief in 1952 for the US Team at the World Soaring Championships in Madrid.
In the 1950’s and early 60’s Tom was Vice President of the Norwich Pharmacal Company and Eaton Laboratories in Norwich, NY before moving to Lexington, KY in 1963 to manage Eaton Ridge Farms, a large Standardbred horse breeding operation that produced numerous stake winners and 2 of the greatest fillies of all time, Impish and Sprite Rodney who set 2 World Trotting Records. He later worked as a starter at tracks up and down the eastern seaboard from Canada to Florida as well as a racing judge at various tracks. A series of subsequent jobs included managing an apartment complex in Cowpet Bay, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
He was involved in numerous civic pursuits, serving as President of the Board of Directors of the Norwich YMCA, onetime Chairman of the Community Chest and member of the Northwood’s School Board of Trustees. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge #302, the Norwich Elks Lodge #1222 and was Treasurer of the American Legion, Post 39 in Vero Beach, Fla. He was actively involved in the National Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hosting a number of Olympic Swimmers for its opening ceremonies.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoying sailing, deep sea fishing, flying, hunting and skeet shooting. He was a founding member of the Lost Pond Club in Preston, NY and an avid bowler, golfer, hockey player and bobsledder. Tom also won many races as a driver of his own horses on the County Fair circuit.
His long life and varied interests covered a lot of interesting territory. May he rest in peace.