Thomas F. Jordan

Thomas Francis Patrick Jordan, age 95, of Madison, passed away peacefully at home, in the early morning of Good Friday, April 10, 2020. Born in Bridgeport, where at age 11, he met his lifelong sweetheart and wife of 68 years, Frances Violet Malmquist Jordan. Tom and Fran married in a “snowball” wedding, with everyone wearing white, in August 1946 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport. They lived in Seaside Village and the North End of Bridgeport where they raised three children.

The day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Tom enlisted in the US Navy at age 17. He served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Wichita, which earned 12 battle stars while he was a part of the crew. He saw combat in the Atlantic, European and Pacific theaters, in France, North Africa, the Aleutian Islands, the South Pacific and Japan. He was a survivor of the disastrous naval operation PQ17 in the Arctic Ocean, known as “The Convoy to Hell”. Many years after that mission he received a Medal of Gratitude from President Boris Yeltsin for his part in helping save the people of Russia from starvation. He reenlisted during the Korean War and served aboard the seaplane tender USS Pine Island. Tom earned his GED in Japan while serving in Korea and remained a lifelong learner and teacher of history. He never forgot his navy buddies from WWII and the Korean War. He planned many official and unofficial ship reunions, and his children had many extra "uncles and aunts".

After returning home, Tom served as a police officer for the City of Bridgeport for 27 years. During his time on the force he worked tirelessly as Vice President of the Police and Fire Union. He volunteered with the Police Athletic League and helped with building the Christmas Village every year at Beardsley Park. He later worked in security and as a personal driver for Industrial Bank and Sovereign Bank. After retiring, Tom and Fran moved to Madison. Never one to sit idle his job in retirement was to drive seniors from the Madison Senior Center and for SARAH, Inc. assisting children with disabilities.

Tom's community service also extended to leading the Salvation Army Kettle Drive for Fairfield County for many years. Tom and Fran taught Youth Sunday School at First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield and when they moved to Madison, became active leaders and members of First Church of Christ Congregational in Clinton. He so looked forward to Madison’s 4th of July parade each year, where after “reserving” front row seats for the parade he would invite the entire extended family home for a picnic. His love of parades started early on and for many years Tom marched for the Drum and Bugle Corp, Stratford Legion, playing the French horn. One year the Corp took first place at the national Parade of Champions competition in Chicago.

Tom will be reunited with Fran, uniting their beautiful spirits of faith, hope, charity and abiding love for one another. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Jordan, sister Marilyn Durkota, sisters-in-law Mary Edith Brown and Betty Noble, his parents Irma and Thomas and his in-laws Gladys and Nels Malmquist. Tom was also predeceased by his beloved daughter-in-law, Eileen Kearns Jordan.

Tom is survived by his loving and grateful children: Thomas P. Jordan of North Kingstown, RI, Terry G. Valiante of Bridgeport and Rev. Heather L. Jordan Khan of Norfolk, VA. He will also be remembered by his grandchildren: Charles W. Fortier of Bridgeport, Patrick K. Jordan, Esq. (Laura) of Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, Dr. Caitlin S. J. Shaffer (Brian) of Manhattan, NY, Breinne J. Famulari (Paul) of Barrington, NH, Anwari F. Khan of Madison and Heath P. Khan, Esq. (Christine) of Queens, NY. Tom will be missed by his great grandchildren: Breanna and Kyra Fortier, Finn and Teagan Jordan, Laurel and Clara Shaffer and Brennan and Paxton Famulari. Uncle Tom has many proud and devoted nephews and nieces, cousins and close friends around the country.

He would never go on a walk without a dog biscuit, loved to regale his family with war stories and was fond of saying, “Eat hardy and give the ship a good name!” He was always one for quoting an Irish blessing, so at this time and always, his friends and family pray that the road will rise to meet him and that the wind will always be at his back. Sail on, Tom.

Tom’s spirit is commended into the Lord’s hands and in the trust of the resurrection of life everlasting. Due to the current pandemic all services are restricted and private. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Swan Funeral Home, 80 E. Main St. in Clinton.