Thomas Michael Hetherington

Thomas “Tom” Hetherington, 78 of Bolivia, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Friday February 27, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear Life Care. He was the husband of 55 years of Joan Hetherington. Born November 18, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tom grew up in Levittown, Pennsylvania and followed in his father’s and brother’s footsteps in a love of boating and being on the water; a passion he passed to his family and enjoyed in retirement.

Tom is survived by his wife Joan Hetherington of Bolivia; son Brian Hetherington and wife Amy of Annapolis, MD, daughter Melissa Hetherington of Raleigh, NC; granddaughters Arden Drenzek, Kelsey Hetherington, Kyla Drenzek, and Leah Hetherington; brother Irvine Hetherington and wife Jayne of St Michael’s, MD.

Tom was preceded in death by parents Irvine and Anna Hetherington, and brother Donald Hetherington.

After 30 years as an administrator for the Montgomery County Public Schools of Maryland, Tom & Joan retired to their “beach house” in Bolivia, North Carolina. Tom owned and operated Parrot Head Boat Charters and Services for 16 years in Southport, NC where he was known as a small boat charter captain who was extremely knowledgeable of the Cape Fear and Intracoastal Waterway history in the Southport area, and a general handyman who could repair just about anything on yachts of all sizes. Tom’s meticulous attention to detail earned him a reputation as a go-to guy particularly for marine woodwork and electrical repairs.

Tom was first and foremost a family-man. Known as “Poppi” by his four granddaughters, he would have invented the ‘Dad Joke’ had it not already been invented before him and could regularly be heard whistling or singing to 1970’s classic rock in the car; a trait he passed along to his daughter. After meeting Joan at a Delaware beach while they were in college, they became life-long friends and partners, supporting each other through good times and challenges, especially his battle with Alzheimer’s over the past 8 years.

Besides his family, Tom’s two biggest joys were boating, and solving a challenge: whether it was racing sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay with his son, powerboating on the Cape Fear with his wife, building a multi-story deck, working on a boat, or fixing just about anything, Tom was known by everyone as gentle, caring, hardworking, and pragmatic.

A celebration of life will be held later in the spring with friends and family. Details will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to either Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (www.lifecare.org) or Special Love for Children with Cancer (www.specialove.org).