WEST EATON – Thomas V. Ciarrocchi, died Sunday, July 8, 2007 at his home “the studio” in West Eaton.
Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he was the oldest of six children of Claudio Ciarrocchio from Terrino Abruzzie and Theresa Tammero from Naples, Italy. At age 9, he and his family moved to Mays Landing, N.J., upon the death of his father. He attended Mays Landing schools and graduated from Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic City. During his school years, he played football, ice hockey and he boxed.  In 1937, he was runner-up for the United States Olympic Boxing Team. Following high school, he played football at Colgate University before enlisting in the Navy in October 1939. He served for two years on the battleship Arkansas touring the North Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. He was then assigned to the PC 574 boat convoying tankers from Recife, Brazil to Dakar, Africa. Eventually, he served in the New Guinea area before being enrolled in naval flight preparatory training. As he finished his training, the war ended and he received an honorable discharge on August 14, 1945. At the end of the war he married Lucile Tayntor Wells and enrolled in a newly developed food program at Agricultural and Technical College in Morrisville. Following his graduation in 1947, he and his wife moved to West Eaton where Thomas continued to live.
He joined the Bond Bread Company as a sales representative where he trained new staff and developed new markets. After ten years, he accepted an offer to join Planters Peanuts. He had a better position and was successful, but he did not wish to continue traveling so much. With the help of a friend, Joe Lawrence of Utica, he founded Eaton Foods in Syracuse, and became a distributor of Wise Snack Products. He quickly became known as “the potato chip man.”
He became very involved with community causes and assisted in the first efforts to raise funds for a hospital in Hamilton (now Community Memorial Hospital).
Thomas was a Democrat in a Republican area of New York State. He ran for NY State Assembly and while he lost the election, he paved the way for Democrats in Madison County and acted as an advocate for the people in his area.
He was elected Supervisor of the Town of Eaton from 1982-88, representing the Town of Eaton on the Madison County Board of Supervisors. While Supervisor, he was Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and negotiated the building of the Madison County Jail. He also developed the beginnings of the county-wide 911 system and the zoning in the Town of Eaton.
Thomas was appointed Commissioner by Governors Carey and Cuomo to the Central New York State Region of the Parks and Recreation Commission. While Commissioner, he was Vice-Chairman and was able to have Madison Hall in Morrisville designated as a New York State Landmark, thereby saving it from the wrecking ball.
Thomas had served as President of the Madison County Office for the Aging for ten years and continued to serve on the board. He was able to arrange to have the local nursing home (Crouse Community Center)  remain in the Morrisville area, and laid the groundwork for the Senior Housing in Morrisville. Assemblyman William Magee was instrumental in completing the project.
Morrisville State College has always been a part of Thomas’ life. He currently served as vice chairman of the Morrisville College Foundation Board and had been a member since its formation in 1976.
Thomas always felt he should pay back to his country, America. In a quiet and understanding way, he had been spreading good will to many, his family and then the community. He had helped many individuals achieve their current successes as lawyers, CEO’s and businesspeople. In his own family, he blazed the trail for his brother, niece and nephews to complete college and to be successful in their careers. Outliving his two brothers and three sisters, he was truly the patriarch of the family. His generosity to SUNY, Morrisville in the form of scholarships, real property and a major gift toward an expanded Ice Plex Facility, provided the community with more ice exposure and has set a high standard for others to follow. The Morrisville State College Men’s Ice Hockey Team members were “his boys.” He proudly wore two of their National Champion rings.
His generosity also extended to the Madison County Office for the Aging, Madison Hall and the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Syracuse, as well as many other charitable organizations. At times, Thomas had been called the “godfather,” the man who is central; the man who knows much and many. But truly, Thomas was different. Behind his tough-guy image, he was a very caring man who was always giving and always sharing his resources. He had been a very successful American entrepreneur against all odds, and was very proud of his Italian ancestry. Only in America, he said, can anyone do so much.
Surviving are his significant other of 20 years, Luella Abbott Oakes; his sister, Celesta (Donald) Devine, Hanover Park, IL; his niece, Debra Ciarrocchi, Mays Landing, NJ; nephews, James Ciarrocchi, Houston, TX, Michael (Maria) Ciarrocchi, Cherry Hill, NJ,  Robert (Michell) Ciarrocchi, Landenberg, PA, Thomas (Bonnie) Ciarrocchi, Louisville, KY; great-nephews, Daniel Ciarrocchi, Landenberg, PA and Anthony Ciarrocchi, Cherry Hill, NJ; great-nieces, Amanda Ciarrocchi, Landenberg, PA and Marie Ciarrocchi, Cherry Hill, NJ; maternal aunt, Lena Tammero, Vineland, NJ and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucile Tayntor Wells Ciarrocchi; his parents, Claudio and Theresa Ciarrocchi; his sisters, Mary, Rita and Angelina Ciarrocchi; and brothers, Anthony and James Ciarrocchi.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joan of Arc Church, Brookside Dr., Morrisville.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St., Morrisville on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Thomas V. Ciarrocchi Scholarship, Morrisville State College, Morrisville, NY 13408; Madison County Office for the Aging, 138 Dominick Bruno Blvd., Canastota, NY 13032; West Eaton Cemetery Assoc., Box 2, West Eaton, NY 13484; St. Joan of Arc Church, Morrisville, NY 13408; Syracuse St. Vincent DePaul, 6710 Commerce Blvd., Syracuse NY 13211.