Tom Volpe, Jr. a long time resident of Monroe and a former Darien resident died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack on Jan. 29, while living in Southbury.
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Tom was a technical support engineer employed by Neato, Inc., a New Haven subsidiary of Fellows Incorporated.
Tom, born in New Rochelle, N.Y. on May 17, 1958, was the son of Thomas and his predeceased mother, Josephine (Jo) Volpe. They lived first in Larchmont, then Chappaqua, N.Y., where Tom attended Greeley High School.
In 1976 the family moved to Darien, where Tom attended and graduated from Darien High School in 1977. Tom then attended Pace College, Norwalk Community College, Bridgeport Engineering Institute and Eastern Connecticut State College.
From 1983 to 1986 Tom was employed by Norden Systems in Norwalk, where he received technical certification in electro-mechanical production by the U.S. Army Missile Command and NASA.
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— an obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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From 1987 to 1989 he was employed by Technical Instruments Corp., in Tarrytown, N.Y., where he worked on the initial prototype building of two types of drug analyzers.
In 1989 Tom was employed by Image Graphics, Inc. in Shelton, doing electro-mechanical contract work to develop, modify and implement manufacturing procedures required for prototypes built to military specifications.
In 1997 Tom’s career changed with a new focus on the Internet. Tom took a position with Concentrex, in Trumbull, providing top-level support for the use of proprietary financial management software on Internet Banking websites in the U.S. and Canada.
From 2002 to date Tom has been employed by Neato, Inc. in East Haven, where he continued his valuable technical support career.
Wherever Tom worked he was highly valued, first for his technical knowledge, next for his personality and good nature; Tom worked well with all levels of management, fellow employees and the public.
Tom and his former wife, Lauren Quinn Volpe of Monroe, are the parents of Victoria and Heather Volpe. Tom and Lauren were especially close with their two daughters and their respective partners David Butkus and Jimmy Minuit.
In addition to his parents, Tom and Cecilia Volpe of Darien, Tom leaves behind a brother Bob and his former wife Joan Volpe of Cary, North Carolina, and their two sons, Joe and his wife Rebecca Volpe, and Bob Volpe, Jr.
Tom is also survived by his sisters Rosemarie and her husband Gary Costello of Monroe, and their children, Michael, Kevin and Jennifer Costello; and Donna and her husband Malcolm Bell and their children Ryan and JoAnn Bell of Monroe; and Dianne Forlenzo and her son Brandon Forlenzo of Stamford, Dianne’s husband, Mark Forlenzo died in 2006.
Tom is also survived by his step-brother Chris Clay and his wife Emily and their sons Richard and William Clay of Larchmont, NY. Tom’s other step-brother, Gregory Clay, died in 2013.
Tom and his partner, Julie Ralston of Southbury, were avid mineral collectors and they travelled to many quarries, mines and gem sites and accumulated an impressive collection of gem stones, fossils and geological specimens. Tom was so proud of his rock collecting that he owned a claim at Diamond Acres in Fonda, N.Y.
Tom was also especially generous with his time and knowledge of electronics, always willing to help his family and friends with their computer and Internet problems, and he did so with a smile. Tom leaves behind a large and loving family and an even larger family of friends. Tom will be so very much missed.
The family will receive visitors at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. John Roman Catholic Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, on Thursday at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers a contribution may be made to Victoria Volpe, 41 Hurd Ave., Monroe, CT 06468, for a memorial plaque which she intends to mount at one of his favorite places.