Tom was born in Queens, New York, and at a young age his family moved to Hollywood, California. At the start of orld War II he moved back to the east coast while his father was a pilot in the war. Then after the untimely death of his mother, he attended New Jersey Oratory Boarding School for seventh and eighth grade
Upon the end of the war he moved to Woodcote, England, to be closer to his father, who was stationed in Europe. There he enrolled in the Oratory School founded by Cardinal Newman. Upon high school graduation in England he moved to France to attend college at St. Martin College, Pontoise, France. He attended Georgetown University, and then interrupted his studies to enlist in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, 1952-1956. With his honorable discharge from the Air Force he continued at Georgetown and the College of Racine, Wisconsin, earning his bachelor’s degree in history and French. He went on to receive his master’s degree in Medieval History from the University of Wisconsin.
He met his wife in Milwaukee and they were married for 52 loving years. Tom was a college professor in Iowa and continued his career overseas for 15 years teaching French, Arabic and English, and together with his wife, raised their family in Saudi Arabia and traveled the world. They moved back to the States in 1988 and lived in Florida for 17 years before moving to Poulsbo, Washington, in 2006.
Tom’s volunteer work included: Boy Scout Leader in Saudi Arabia, where he organized and supervised their photographic animal safari to Kenya and Tanzania; Fund Raiser for America Lung Society in Florida; Helped Tutor in Rosy’s classrooms in Florida; Program Director for Knights of Columbus in Ft. Myers, Florida. Tom loved a good adventure, writing short stories, woodworking, SCUBA diving and underwater photography, performing magic, Tai Chi, acting, winning a trophy for humor in Toastmasters, and being a husband, father, grandfather, teacher and professor and friend to all.
Tom is preceded in death by his mother, Katherine Sorley Bennett, father Lt. Col. USAF Francis Bennett, brother James Bennett. Tom is survived by his wife, Rose Marie (“Rosy”); son Andrew Justin; daughter Adrienne Brown; son-in-law John B. Brown; and grandsons Antonio and Lorenzo Brown. Flowers can be sent to St. Olaf Church, 18943 Caldart Ave. NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370 or donations can be made to Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation at www.michaeljfox.org. The Funeral will be held in Poulsbo at St. Olaf Church Monday Oct. 23, 2017. Rosary at 10:30 a.m., Funeral Mass, 11 a.m. and, reception at noon. An online memorial can be seen at www.poulsbomortuary.com.
