Alden Hart Sawyer Jr.

Alden Hart Sawyer, Jr. -- June 9, 1931 – February 11, 2023

On February 11, 2023, Alden Hart Sawyer, Jr, better known as Tom, Dad, and Grampy died peacefully in his sleep in his 92nd year of life.

Tom was born in Summit, NJ to Alden H. Sawyer Sr. and Gayle Morgan Sawyer and moved to Maine at a young age. He graduated from Deering High School in 1949. In 1953 he graduated from Bowdoin College and in 1958 he earned an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Between Bowdoin and U. Michigan Tom had the opportunity to see the world while on two world cruises aboard the USS Forrest Royal (DD872). Tom attended Navy Officer Candidate School and Communications School in Newport RI. In 1956-1957 Tom served as Staff, Commander Destroyer Squadron Ten with active duty in Korean War Zone September 1954 to January 1955. Tom had “The Conn” (control of the ship) during a passage through the Suez Canal, among other, challenging passages.

In 1957 Tom went to work as an accountant at Baker & Adams (now Baker Newman Noyes) and in 1958 Tom began a 40-year career at Shaw’s Supermarkets as Office Manager. In 1960 he became Assistant Treasurer and two years later Treasurer. In 1967 he was promoted to VP for Finance and Real Estate and in 1975 Tom was named EVP and General Manager. When Shaw’s merged with Brocton Public Markets in 1981 Tom served as General Manager of the Central Division and in 1983 he became General Manager of the Northern Division and retired from Shaw’s in 1988.

During and after Tom’s time at Shaw’s he was very active on public and non-profit boards. Most notably, Tom served as trustee on Davis Family Foundation, on the Board of Overseers at Bowdoin College, as a Corporator and Investment Committee member of Maine Medical Center, Chairman of North Yarmouth Academy, Campaign Chair of United Way, and Director of Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation. He also served on over a dozen boards that he loved and served with loyalty and enthusiasm.

Tom enjoyed skiing for most of his life. As a young boy he was given skis and practiced regularly on a backyard hill in Stroudwater. Later he worked at King & Dexter Ski Shop mounting bindings and screwing in metal edges onto hickory skis. He raced for Deering and Bowdoin and competed in the Canadian Nationals. One career highlight was sixth place out of 47 racers in the first ski race at Sugarloaf in April 1952.

Tom's happiest days were spent fly fishing with friends and family along the The Miramichi, St. Paul, or Upsalquitch Rivers and glorious days cruising Downeast on Tamerlane a 36’ Grand Banks and sailing to PEI onboard Diablo. If not boating he might be found at early morning tennis and for Tom there was never a bad ski day at Sugarloaf no matter how icy it was.

Tom is survived by his wife Barbara. They were married for 68 years. Also his daughter Judy and her husband Carson, son Andrew and his wife Tisha and his grandsons, Duncan, Morgan, Alden and Jack.

Tom was predeceased by his brother, Olin Sawyer.

The family plans to have a celebration of Tom’s life at the Portland Country Club on April 27, 2023 starting at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maine Medical Center – Philanthropy or Bowdoin College, The addresses are in the donation tab.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com for the Sawyer family.