Thomas Morton Armstrong Sr.

Tom was born in Pittsburg Pa. in 1927 to parents Mary Hilliard and Charles Dudley Armstrong, moving to Lancaster Pa. soon after his arrival.

A graduate of St. Paul’s School in 1945, he excelled in sports, was elected President of his senior class, was captain of the football team and was awarded the president’s medal. Upon graduation, Tom joined the U.S. Navy 1945-46, then attended Yale College graduating in 1950. Tom had fond memories of playing ice hockey on the St. Paul’s ponds, which sparked a life-long passion for pond and lake skating. Tom made ice skating seem effortless cutting a strong and graceful line for miles across the black ice of his beloved Squam Lake. Concerned with safety, his sound words of wisdom were “always carry a rope, never skate alone”.

Tom married Rachel Franck of Lancaster, Pa. in 1951 and lived first in Durham and Concord, N.H. before moving to Saco, Maine in 1955 then to Falmouth in 1960. A forester at heart, Tom was employed by Deering Lumber Co. Biddeford, Maine. in 1955 and retired as president in 1987.

His two great passions were his family and the outdoors. Tom’s deep appreciation for the natural world included hiking all the White Mt. four thousand footers, casting for trout from his canoe and catching “sunnies” from the Squam Lake dock with his grandchildren. Recognized as the Lincoln County Outstanding Tree farmer of the year, Tom loved tramping through his wood lots to assess healthy tree growth, often attempting to pass the weak scraggly trees on as the family Christmas tree. Vetoed by Rachel.

He was a humble and eloquent speaker, a kind and gentle soul, and a sincere and active listener. He demonstrated his interest in the lives of family and friends with frequent handwritten notes, ballads, poems, and proclamations. His recall was legendary, surpassing his adult children’s memories of names, places, and dates. With a twinkle in his eye and abundant sense of humor, he enjoyed playing pranks, to the delight of family and friends.

Tom’s love of the outdoors broadened to include land conservation as a founder of the Falmouth Land Trust and board roles with the Maine Woodland Owners Land Trust. Other boards and affiliations included the Maine Medical Center, Waynflete School, Holderness School, Chocorua Island Chapel Assoc., Lakes Region Conservation Trust, and a founder of the Piper Shores Retirement Community.

Tom is survived by four children and spouses, Anne and Jim Cram, C.D. and Betts Armstrong, Tom and Liz Armstrong, Virginia Armstrong, 7 grandchildren and spouses: Nat and Abigail Cram, Rachel and Kyle Halliday, Philip Armstrong, Katherine Armstrong and Zand Martin, Emilie Cram, Laura Armstrong and Josh Andersen, Allie Armstrong, 6 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was predeceased by wife Rachel Armstrong, siblings: Barbara, John, Virginia, and Henry. Special Thanks to: Kelly, Lorette, Kate, Lori, the staff at both Ocean View in Falmouth and at Piper Shores in Scarborough.

A Memorial service will be held at the South Freeport Congregational Church, 98 South St. South Freeport, Maine at 2PM on Friday June 30.

Memorial contributions (in lieu of flowers) may be made to:

Maine Woodland Owners Land Trust, P.O. Box 836, Augusta ME. 04332 or

Falmouth Land Trust, P.O. Box 6172, Falmouth ME 04105