Pamela Hooker Thomas

Pamela Hooker Sands Thomas died on Friday, February 26, 2010, after a short and courageous battle with esophageal cancer. She was “younger than springtime.” Her bright eyes, sense of humor, generosity, and intellect were evident throughout her life.

Pamela was the daughter of Brian and Doris Hooker with whom she enjoyed many adventures in Old Lyme, Farmington and New York City. As a young child, she lived in Gramercy Park in New York City and attended the Friends Seminary. She graduated from Rosemary Hall at the age of 16 and went on to the University of Michigan and Colombia University. In the early 1930s, she lived in Hollywood with her father, a poet and playwright. She enjoyed spending time with him on the Paramount Studio lot and at the Bel Air Country Club. She liked to tell the story of the day she watched Howard Hughes and Katherine Hepburn landing their plane on the golf course - to the horror of the Club members.

She worked at Pratt Reed in Ivoryton during World War II. After raising her family, she went back to work at Norwich State Hospital. She retired as a Medical Records Librarian at the age of 76. She had many fond memories of her co-workers whom she considered her closest friends. After retiring, she volunteered at the Lyme Consolidated School Library where her expertise was greatly appreciated.

She married Philip Sands in 1940, with whom she had two children. He predeceased her in 1954. After many years, she joined Paul Thomas in marriage and sobriety. Throughout their 25 years together, they enjoyed driving New England’s country roads, exploring antique stores and shopping. Paul would rant and rave while Pam quietly read a book – they were quite compatible. She enjoyed the spontaneity of their life together. She was widowed in 2003 and left five step-children and their families behind.

She enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading, her cats, sailors, the beauty of nature, and gardening --including planting a garden for the deer to eat. Her family will miss her homemade applesauce and her special family recipe for Thanksgiving chestnut stuffing. She was a woman who lived her life with “verve, élan, dash and esprit”.

She is survived by her sister Elisabeth Hooker and a flock of her “precious lambs” (and rams). Her children, Sally (Ron) Rose, Philip (Sharon) Sands. Her five grandchildren, Donna (Steve) Coulombe, William Rose, Jane (Jerry Bennett) Rose, Rebecca (FrankJames) Bocian, Elisabeth (Chris Gorski) Rose. Her 12 great-grandchildren – Phillip and Emily Coulombe; Phillip, Sandra, Isabel, Nathaniel, Theodore, Sebastian Rose; Sarah and Stephanie Bennett; Jacob and Marley Bocian. And her great-great grandson Paul LeDuc. She also leaves behind her beloved kitty, Cali, rescued from the Humane Society of Ledyard.

The family would like to thank Middlesex Hospice, VNA of the Lower Valley, and to extend special gratitude to Brenda Scott for her exceptional caring and friendship.

She did not wish to be mourned; her life will be celebrated at the Fulton Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme on Saturday, March 6 from 11 am – 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to The Humane Society, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, or to your local Humane Society.