STARKSBORO — Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Friend.

Thomas “Tom” Michael Adams of Starksboro passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, Sept. 4, surrounded by his family.

If you asked a hundred people who Tom Adams was, they would all give you a variety of answers. A husband. A father. A grandfather. An electrician. A mechanic. A comedian. A fireman. A carpenter. An inventor. Mr. Fixit and many more. All these descriptions would be true of this amazing man. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do or figure out.

Tom worked hard as a master electrician for 50 years. With a young family he took a risk and started his own business in 1976. He takes with him an indefinable amount of knowledge and a work ethic that can’t be quantified. He would tell stories of the many jobs he worked on and the people that he met along the way. He left quite the impression on those that were blessed to have met him. He was dependable, hard working, and one of the most generous people you could ever meet.

Tom has a close circle of friends through his love of Street Rods and membership in the Vermont Street Rod Club. He spent many hours in his “Man Cave” or garage building his cars from the frame up. He loved to travel each summer to car shows even with the occasional breakdown in the hot summer heat! It was another story to share and a problem to figure out.

Tom also formed long lasting friendships through his work as a volunteer firefighter in the Starksboro Fire Department. He served his community for 21 years. Tom, along with a few others, also started the Bristol Rescue Squad.

Tom was a man of few words, but what he didn’t express, he showed with his actions. No one knew this better than his wife and “other half” of 52 years, three daughters, son-in-law and his “icing on the cake” grandchildren. He loved them more than anything and made sure they all knew this.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy; three daughters, Theresa (Carl) Gile, Sarah (Chris) Scrodin, and Jessica (David) Antonioli; and six grandchildren, Colby and Madison Gile, Savannah and Caleb Scrodin, and Avery and Maddox Antonioli. In addition, he is predeceased by his father, Wayne Adams and mother, Rita (Benoit) Adams. He is survived by his siblings, Dennis Adams, Diane Orvis, Janet Orvis, Laura Bouvier, Mark Adams and Lee Butler, and predeceased by Jean Bedard.

A special thank you to Addison County Home Health and Hospice team for their loving care and support during his final days. Also, the family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to Dr. Roger Giroux, a doctor that went above and beyond.

A celebration of life will be held at noon, Saturday, Sept. 11, at Cota Recreation Field, located on State Prison Hollow Road in Starksboro. If it rains, it will take place at the Starksboro Fire Department. Please bring a lawn chair to this casual event. Also, due to the number of expected guests, masks are encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to the Starksboro Fire Department or Addison County Home Health and Hospice. ◊