Thomas Sifferlen

born March 14, 1931 in Lawrence, MA, to the late John and Mary (Hildebrandt)

Sifferlen.

Thomas graduated from Methuen’s Tenney High School and earned an EE degree from

the University of Cincinnati, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity

and Tau Beta Pi honor society. During the Korean War, LT Sifferlen served as SeaBee

officer assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. During this time he

completed his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Northwestern University.

As a civilian in 1958, Thomas worked at the Washington, DC based Naval Research

Laboratory. In 1960, he began a 33-year engineering career at Raytheon Company

Submarine Signal Division in Portsmouth, RI and then Equipment Division in Wayland,

MA. During his tenure at Raytheon, Mr. Sifferlen held many position including

Department Head and Lead Systems Engineer for the Pave Paws and Cobra Dane

programs, integral parts of the US Early Missile Warning and Space Surveillance

Defense Systems. Thomas held several patents on radar technology, and co-authored an

engineering applications college text book. A life long member of the Institute for

Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Mr. Sifferlen was also a former chairman of

the Providence chapter. After retiring from Raytheon in 1993, Thomas spent 10 years

consulting for Riverside Research. For 13 years he assisted Sudbury’s elderly by

volunteering as a certified AARP tax preparer. He was a charter member of the Retired

Men’s Association. He enjoyed spending time with his family, attending his

grandchildren’s activities, carpentry, camping, hiking, and board games.

Thomas P. Sifferlen is survived by his wife Margaret A. (Jansen) Sifferlen of Sudbury,

and his eight children: Thomas A. of Cambridge, Stephen G. (Colleen) of Walpole, Mary

M. of Melrose, Jane M. Noonan (Patrick) of Temple, TX, Peter J. of San Diego, CA,

Margaret S. Smith (Troy) of Danville, IN, William P. (Ellen) of Sudbury, James F.

(Cheryl ) of Bedford, and his 13 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers

Joseph and John Sifferlen, and sister Barbara Rullo.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 6 at Sudbury’s Our

Lady of Fatima Catholic Church on Concord Road; burial will follow in Wadsworth

Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 AM at the church preceding the

Mass. In lieu of flowers please donations may be made to,Medical Mission Sister,8400 Pine Rd,Philadelphia,PA 19111-9986,or

Catholic Relief Services, Box 17152,Balimore, Maryland 21298-8452;