Thomas F Clink

Thomas French Clink, known to most as Tom, of Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away due to natural causes on the evening of Sunday, June 8th, 2025, at the age of 81.

Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife, DeAnda “Dee” Gray Clink, and his siblings, Nancy Sheldon and Stephen Clink III. He is survived by his sister, Betsy Naumer; his children, Heather Banks (Dirk Banks) and Thomas Gray Clink “Gray”; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Schultz (Brent Schultz) and Timothy Johnson (Lanita Morton); and his great-grandchildren, Kinsleigh Schultz and Oaklyn Schultz.

Born on February 14th, 1944, in Muskegon, Michigan, to Stephen and Margaret (French) Clink, Tom spent his childhood in Michigan, enjoying skiing, sailing, and boy scouts. These passions remained with him throughout his life, influencing many people along the way. Summers at the family cottage on Douglas Lake were filled with boating and water sports, creating cherished memories.

Tom graduated from North Muskegon High School in 1962, where he was known for his diverse interests, including sailing, tennis, hockey, and skiing. His senior yearbook stated “ ‘Clinker’ has a variety of interests. Some of them are sailing, tennis, hockey, and skiing - in which he excels. Tom wants to spend his days eating pizza and ice cream in Hawaii. Tom’s future plans include going to eastern prep school and then Dartmouth” (his family is unsure about the references to pizza, Hawaii, and Dartmouth in his high school yearbook!).

After high school, Tom fulfilled his desire to attend prep school at Tilton. He then pursued a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management at Michigan State University, graduating in 1966. This decision was a lively point of contention within the family, as most of his relatives were proud alumni of the rival University of Michigan. He went on to major in Hotel and Restaurant Management at Michigan State University, graduating in 1966. His post-college years were spent competitively skiing and instructing at various ski resorts, including Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan, Portillo in Chile, and Vail in Colorado. It was in Vail that he met his beloved wife, Dee.

Tom and Dee married in Breckenridge, Colorado, on November 30th, 1968, and spent the next 23 years there. They welcomed their daughter, Heather, in 1971, and their son, Gray, in 1976. Tom worked for Breckenridge Ski Resort, where he became a community staple, eventually becoming the lift manager. His passion for skiing led to the installation of the first high-speed detachable quad ski lift in America in 1981. Tom was one of the founders of the Rocky Mountain Lift Association (RMLA), an organization that provides training for lift operations and maintenance professionals. Starting in the mid 1970’s, the RMLA became a prominent ski industry association in the United States, dedicated to sharing information and problem-solving ideas among lift maintenance personnel. Tom dedicated 20 years to Breckenridge Ski Resort.

In 1991, Tom and his family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he worked for Leitner-Poma of America as a Sales Manager for 22 years. He was appreciated for his dedication and service, creating close partnerships with customers and associates in both the United States and France. He retired in 2013.

Following his retirement, Tom spent his time with family, enjoying outdoor adventures with side-by-side all-terrain vehicles and a camper. He enjoyed traveling and visiting places like Moab, Utah, Disneyland in California, and Mount Rushmore. His most recent trip included visits to the zoo and aquarium with his great-grandchildren. Tom cherished his time outdoors and with his loved ones, including many four-legged friends. Tom will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His legacy of passion, dedication, and love for family will live on in the hearts of those he touched.

There will be a Celebration of Life service to honor the life of Tom Clink on June 29, 2025, at 11:00am at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary & Crematory at 2515 Patterson Rd., Grand Junction, CO. The services are planned to be live-streamed for those wishing to participate that way.

Zoom Meeting https://us05web.zoom.us/j/3935151183?pwd=YM7BvPPPTL2qiIlxwBj2Y6Yf1QCluI.1&omn=89565332744

Meeting ID: 393 515 1183

Passcode: DJjWb1