Thomas Ciaranello

He was known for his keen intellect, skilled craftsmanship, and lifelong search for understanding.

Tom was born on April 1, 1949, in Troy, New York, and grew up in the suburbs of Schenectady and Syracuse, living in Burnt Hills and DeWitt. There he developed the independent spirit and intellectual curiosity that would shape the course of his life.

Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army in February 1969 and served in the Vietnam War as a member of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade of the Americal Division. He arrived in Vietnam in July 1969 and was wounded in combat that September. He spent eleven months recovering in military hospitals, where he learned to play guitar as part of his rehabilitation. Music remained an important part of his life, and he became a gifted guitarist. For his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart and other commendations. Years later, his resilience was tested again when he survived a battle with cancer linked to Agent Orange exposure.

After returning home, Tom settled in northern Maine, where he bought land and started a family. He attended Ricker College in Houlton before transferring to the University of Southern Maine, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Accounting—famously said to have completed his entire course of study without ever needing to open a textbook. Those who knew him recognized a rare and probing intelligence that shaped the many paths he pursued throughout his life.

Despite his academic success, the corporate world held little appeal. After receiving a job offer from one of Portland’s most prestigious accounting firms, Tom realized he could not imagine spending his life in a shirt and tie. He declined the offer, choosing instead a life where he could work with his hands and remain independent.

A gifted craftsman, Tom was a skilled finish carpenter, stone mason, and furniture maker who took quiet pride in careful work and in creating things meant to last. Over the years he worked as a clerk carrier for the Post Office, a self-employed carpenter and mason, and a foreman for Murray Construction. He later returned to the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 2014 from the maintenance department as a carpenter.

Tom’s life was also guided by a search for spiritual and physical balance. He practiced Buddhist meditation for many years and was a dedicated practitioner of Aikido, helping to co-found Portland Aikido. He later found further peace in the fluid movements of T’ai Chi and the meditative stillness of Chi Kung and Zhan Zhuang. A true polymath, he moved easily between conversations about complex philosophy and the mechanics of a well-built structure.

Those closest to Tom knew him as thoughtful, curious, and resilient. As a husband and father, he brought patience, reflection, and a quiet steadiness.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Joseph Ciaranello.

He is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Rita Ciaranello; his children, Tanya Anderson, Jaison Ciaranello, and Rosy Ciaranello; his brother, Robert Ciaranello; his sister, Mary Taitt; four grandchildren, Makenzie, Jameson, Caileb, and Jacob; his great-grandson, Levi; and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Hospice of Southern Maine and to his dedicated caregiver, Sylvia, for their compassion and care.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on April 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth, Maine.

Tom’s life was shaped by resilience, creativity, and a lifelong search for understanding. With gratitude, we remember him and hold him in our hearts with love.

"All conditioned things are impermanent—

when one sees this with wisdom,

one turns away from suffering.

This is the path to peace."

— Dhammapada