Tom Shubbuck

Tom Shubbuck, whose life was as exceptional as his sense of humor, passed away peacefully in January 2023, surrounded by his family. Born in Buffalo, NY, to Genevieve (Piskorowski) and Edmund Shubbuck, Tom spent most of his early years in Medina tinkering with mechanical things. He put those skills into action when he joined the U.S. Coast Guard as an Electronics Technician and was based all over the world, including Hawaii, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Tom quickly climbed the ranks and became a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO4).

Tom was a playful person with a mischievous streak, but his twinkling eyes always betrayed his thoughts. His humor knew no bounds, and he never missed an opportunity to try to make others laugh, even if only to tickle his own funny bone. He was also an empathetic listener who gave practical and well-thought-out advice when asked for it.

After retiring from the service, Tom continued to climb the ladder professionally, eventually becoming the Director of Engineering at various hospitals in Connecticut. Tom was a firm believer in education being the key to a better life, and so he earned a BS in Engineering from Roger Williams College and an MS in Organizational Management from Central CT State University.

Tom shared his best years with his wife Karen. They had two sons, Thomas and Michael, whose wife, Tara, fits in well with this fun, travel-loving family. Tom also loved miniature schnauzers, and he and Karen cherished the four of them. The entire family enjoyed traveling all over the United States as the boys were growing up, and they briefly lived in New Mexico before settling in Las Vegas, NV. Not one to sit around, Tom earned his licensure to become a teacher in the Clark County School district in Las Vegas, where he taught computer science among many subjects, for several years. Tom and Karen continued to travel the world and sailed on many cruise trips, with Tom glad not to have “the duty” while on board.

Sadly, Tom’s only brother, Ronnie, was killed during the Vietnam War and buried in Arlington National Cemetery. It is there that Tom will also be laid to rest, leaving behind a legacy of service to his country, belly full of laughter and much, much love. Anyone wanting to honor his life may donate to Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, https://www.cgmahq.org

Tom lived life to the fullest, and his sense of humor and empathetic nature will be truly missed.