Thomas S. Worthley

Thomas S. Worthley RAYONG, Thailand — It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Samuel Worthley, 83. He died at his home in Rayong, Thailand, on March 17, 2022. Tom was born in Rockingham, Vermont, on June 6, 1938, to Mark Phenland Worthley and Ann Mary Ahern. One of five children, Tom spent his childhood with his sisters and brother, playing school sports, fishing in the Connecticut river and sometimes a participant in some innocent and boyish mischief. Tom graduated from Charlestown High in 1956 and was the class president, with Donny Hiter as vice president, secretaries Davida Stagner and Patricia Lewis, and treasurer Ann Traggio. After graduating high school, Tom married Davida Stagner and they continued to reside in Charlestown while Tom attended classes at Norwich University. He graduated in 1960 with a BS in Civil Engineering. Being in the ROTC, Tom served for eight years in the U.S. Army, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. Upon his return, Tom settled his family of five children in Acton, Massachusetts, and resumed his career as a civil engineer in New England (Boston, Concord, Massachusetts) while completing his master’s at Northeastern University. Tom spent the next 50+ years overseeing large water treatment projects throughout the world, including Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Nepal and many other faraway places, bringing precious, clean water to millions of people in developing nations. In 1978, he relocated to Thailand, met his wife, Nuttina, and had primarily resided there since, first in Bangkok, then in Rayong where he spent his retirement years. Ever the consummate hosts, Tom and Nuttina welcomed family and friends to visit and enjoy the uniqueness and beauty of Thailand and Asia per Tom’s daily “easy going” itinerary that included sightseeing, tuk-tuk rides, open market shopping, boat trips, garden and temple tours, palace visits, delicious homecooked Thai food and an occasional spaghetti dinner. Tom was an enthusiastic adventurer and relished visiting new places and learning new things. While he enjoyed living abroad, New England was always home for him. Most prominently later in his life as he transitioned into retirement, he spent two to four months every summer bouncing between New England and California to be with his children, attending his Norwich reunions, Old Home Days in Charlestown and spending quality time with his loved ones with lots of barbecues and lobster parties! Tom treasured his many friends and family and diligently crafted itineraries to ensure he spent time with everyone he could during his trips to the States. He made the most of every summer spurring home projects of every sort wherever he stayed. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Mark and Ann (Ahern), of Charlestown; his sister, Sheila Capron, of Santa Cruz, California; his sister, Joanne Ingram, of Kissimmee, Florida; daughter Jeanine, of Santa Cruz, California; and grandnephew Nathaniel Capron, of Castro Valley, California, Tom is survived by his wife, Nuttina (Tansopon), and father-in-law, Panya, in Rayong, Thailand; brother David (Norma), of La Grange, California, and sister Susie (Jerry Holland), of Old Lyme, Connecticut; sons, Doug (Eileen), of Portland, Maine, Todd (Holly LaChance), of Gardiner, Maine, Craig (Julianne), of Aptos, California, and daughter Andrea (Jeff Tolaio), of Santa Cruz, California; grandchildren, Genevieve, Lillian, Ted, Clay and Luca, great-grandson William; 18 nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and many new and lasting friends in America, Thailand and throughout the world. As it is culturally appropriate and respectful, Tom was honored by his community in Rayong, Thailand, March 18-22, with a beautiful Buddhist service filled with meaningful rituals, a peace-filled temple and touching moments. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on June 18 at Saint Catherine Church in Charlestown, New Hampshire. Refreshments will be served after the Mass and a life celebration will follow thereafter.