Thomas C. Aldrich
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has received word of the death of former employee Thomas C. Aldrich on April 24 of cancer in Falmouth. He was 80.
Tom was predeceased by his wife Peggy Peck Aldrich and his grandson Jack Fried.
Born in Chicago in 1937, Tom grew up in Ferguson, Missouri, and graduated from Park College near Kansas City in 1959, with a degree in physics. He served in the US Army from 1960-1963, traveling the world with the entertainment corps.
Tom arrived in Woods Hole in 1963 and became part of the village’s vibrant folk scene, and of its scientific community with his employment at WHOI as a research assistant working for J.B. Hersey. In 1969, he was promoted to research associate. In 1973, he transferred to the PO Department and in 1974, temporarily transferred to the G&G Department. With WHOI, he travelled to many remote corners of the world, measuring gravity and generally adventuring. He left WHOI in 1975.
In the early 1970s, Tom also did consultancy work for the Raytheon Service Corporation, and worked with Captain George Cadwalader to establish the Penikese Island School.
In 1975, Tom began his career at the US Geological Survey, where he worked for the next 27 years. He helped lead the transformation of the Woods Hole office into a modern digital electronic research group, beginning by overseeing the purchase, in 1975, of their first computers for scientific use. By the time of his retirement, he had equipped the office with satellite, video, and internet communications. He ensured ships were available, buildings were modernized, sea-going equipment was state-of- the art, and computers met scientific needs. He combined leadership, management, and administration during his time at USGS. And he did it with a great sense of humor, compassion, and integrity, always aware of the need to show tax payers that their money was spent thoughtfully, efficiently, and not excessively. He retired in 2003 and was awarded Emeritus status.
Tom was a beloved father and renaissance man, with many interests and talents. He biked the length of the Shining Sea Bike Path daily while he was able. He was blessed with a beautiful voice, which he used in diverse performances and productions. With his friend Tom Goux, he co-founded the Greater Falmouth Mostly-All-Male Men’s Chorus, which was invited to perform at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. He was a friendly man who enjoyed a good joke or pun, and had many of his own to share. He was a photographer and a writer. He was lover of beauty, a man of great intellect, insight, and compassion for family, friends, and community.
Tom survived by his daughters Hadley Fried and Brooke Aldrich; granddaughter Ivy Fried; partner Sheila Payne; sister Margaret Stephens and niece Moria Stephens; brother and sister-in-law, Timothy Aldrich and Diane Eskenasy; nephew Peter Aldrich; grand-nephew Bruce Aldrich; niece, Mary Aldrich; brother-in-law John Stephens; nephew Sean Stephens; and aunt Patricia Aldrich.
A memorial event will be held at Woods Hole Community Hall on June 30 at 3 p.m. If you care to give a gift in Tom’s memory, please consider donating to: The Children’s Cancer Association, 1200 NW Naito Parkway, Portland, OR, 97205 (In honor of Tom and his grandson Jack). Or the Center for Coastal Studies, Hiebert Marine Lab, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, Mass., 02657.
Information for this obituary is from the Aldrich family.
