Tom was born October 27, 1931 in Milwaukee, WI to parents Harold and Gertrude Powers.
Raised in Chicago, Tom earned degrees from Loyola University Chicago (BA), DePaul University (MA) and the University of Chicago (PhD).
Tom attended Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI and was commissioned as an Ensign, USNR in November 1953. He served eight years of active duty and twenty-two years in the Navy Reserve. He retired as a Captain (USNR) in 1991.
Tom’s work career included high school and university teaching, as well as directing civilian and military education and training programs, both in the U.S. and overseas. He taught at the U.S. Naval Academy; the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and eventually relocated with family to Heidelberg, Germany where he served as Director of Army Continuing Education Systems for Europe. He closed his career in Education as Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs, Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) - now called Eisenhower College – National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
Tom enjoyed participation in competitive athletics. A varsity swimmer in high school and college, he returned to competitive swimming at age 66. He participated in Masters, YMCA and Senior Olympics Swimming, both in and out of Maryland, until age 85. An avid downhill skier, he also competed in slalom races, held mainly in Pennsylvania, New England, and Colorado, as well as races in the 1970’s which were part of a Winter Games program sponsored by the Maryland Senior Olympics.
After retiring in 1993, Tom volunteered with community organizations providing support to those experiencing poverty or homelessness. His service began with Habitat for Humanity, as a member of a team which built houses in Anne Arundel County, as well as two Easter Week builds in Americus, GA. For years he worked with the Arundel House of Hope, serving homeless and disabled men, including veterans. He also enjoyed serving with the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church.
Tom married his beloved wife, Kathleen Mary, in June 1953. Together they raised seven children and were husband and wife for sixty-six years. Sadly, Tom and his family, lost Kathleen in May 2019.
Tom is survived by seven children: Thomas (Karen) Powers, Jr., Patricia (Thomas) Anderson, Karen (William) McCollum, Susan (William) Stocker, Robert (Claire) Powers, Jacqueline (Michael) Stapleton and Kathleen (Daniel) Goodwin. He will be greatly missed by seventeen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Andrew by the Bay Church, Annapolis on February 13 at 11:00 a.m. Tom will join his wife, Kathleen, in burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a date to be scheduled.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Saint Andrew by the Bay Church, Hospice of the Chesapeake, or a charity of your choice.
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