Thomas Hanselman Link

He was born in New London, CT to Thomas Livingston Link and Emma Margaret Hanselman Link on August 29, 1940. He served in the United States Navy on the ground crew of the famous Hurricane Hunters, as a supply officer aboard the USS Mills on Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica and as commissary store officer in Tapei, Taiwan. He received a BS degree from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of Pi Sigma Epsilon fraternity and the Spirit of Troy marching band. Tom began his career with Publix Supermarkets in 1956 at 16 years old and retired in 2001, having worked his way through the ranks and eventually serving as Store Manager in stores in Jacksonville, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, and Tallahassee as well as positions in the Training and Human Resources Departments in Lakeland. Through the years he mentored scores of young men and women, serving as an outstanding model of compassion, wisdom, and exemplary customer service. In addition to being selected to receive a scholarship to USC by Publix, Tom also achieved many corporate recognitions in his 45 year career.

In his retirement he enjoyed both driving and showing antique cars, playing saxophone in church and community groups, travel, attending USS Mills reunions, clowning for community and religious groups, reading and fishing.

Tom was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tallahassee where he was a deacon, Bible study department director, member of various committees, played in orchestra, sang in First Joy choir, helped build churches in several states, and was always ready to lend a helping hand in local mission endeavors.

Tom’s integrity, faith, and dedication to civic and service groups inevitably lead to recognition. He was nominated as Tallahassee’s Volunteer of the Year by Big Bend Hospice where he volunteered for over 15 years and also served on the Valor Team. He served as president of Capital Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, and was also recognized by Marzuq Shrine for miles driven in transporting children to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa.

Tom, was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his first wife and the mother of his oldest son, Mary Jane Joiner Link. He is survived by Paula Waters Link, his wife of 35 years; 2 sons, Thomas Joiner “Jay” Link of Anthioch, TN and Charles “Chuck” Thomas Link (Meghan) of Malvern, AL; one daughter, Jennifer Lynn Link of Tallahassee; a sister, Mary “Emmie” Phillips of Orlando; 2 grandchildren, Thomas Aedhan Link and Mackenzie Lynn Link; 2 nephews, James “Jim” Matthew Phillips of Orlando and Jesse Bryan Jones of Ozark, AL; and one niece, Pattie Lynn Cole (Paul) of Ozark, AL all of whom will miss him dearly.

Visitation will be at 1:30 PM on Thursday, Jan. 19, at First Baptist Church, immediately followed by funeral Services at 2:30 PM. Interment will take place on Monday, January 23, at 12:00 PM at the National Cemetery on Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church of Tallahassee at 108 W. College Avenue. Web Address is www.FBCTLH.org.