HUDSON FALLS & QUEENSBURY – Thomas R. Yole, Sr., 83 formerly of 94 Oak Street in Hudson Falls and more recently of Angel Lane in Queensbury, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, July 6, 2014.
Born on June 13, 1931 in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late William J. and Clara (Beecher) Yole. On June 30, 1951, Tom married Patricia White at St. Mary’s in Hudson Falls. She passed away on December 17, 1992. He married his second wife, Patricia Busher Taylor on May 7, 1994 at St. Mary’s in Hudson Falls and Adirondack Friends Meeting in South Glens Falls.
In 1948, Tom graduated from Hudson Falls High School and continued his education at SUNY Albany, graduating in 1952. He then received his Masters in Math and Science from Union College in Schenectady.
Following graduation from SUNY Albany, Tom started his teaching career in 1952 at Fort Ann School District. He then continued his love of mathematics education at Lake George School District, Hudson Falls School District and Glens Falls School District until 1972. Starting in 1972, Tom was the Hudson Falls Jr. High Principal, until his retirement in June of 1986. During his career, he was an instructor at the Education Department at the University of New Brunswick, Canada and at the University of Prince Edward Island, also in Canada.
Tom was a Mathematics consultant for American Cooperative Schools in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. He also taught an in service course in mathematics for elementary teachers at BOCES. He belonged to several education organizations. Tom was a member of the National Education Association, New York State Teachers Association, Tri-County Teachers Association, Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State, National Council of Teacher of Mathematics, Mohawk-Hudson Valley Area Mathematics Association, Glens Falls Teachers Association, where he was president and first chief negotiator, School Administrators Association of New York State and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
From 1965 to 1972, Tom was very involved in his community, having served as Town Councilman for the Town of Kingsbury, where he was secretary-treasurer of the Inter-municipal Water Survey Committee. One of his proudest involvements was as treasurer of the Hudson Falls-Kingsbury Swimming Pool Committee. This committee raised funds and solicited labor to complete an outdoor pool which was given, debt free, to the Town of Kingsbury. Tom was also on the Board of Directors for the Washington County Unit of the American Cancer Society and chairman of the first Swim – a-Thon. He once served as Chairman of the United Way Drive for the Village of Hudson Falls and the Hudson Falls Central School. Tom was also a trustee for the Hudson Falls Free Library.
Throughout Tom’s life, his love of family, his love of children and education, his love of community and service can be seen through his giving back as husband, father, grandfather, educator and as a pillar of the community.
Besides his parents and first wife, he was predeceased by his siblings, Richard Yole, James Yole, Jack Yole, Gerald Yole and Rosemarie Hafner.
Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Patricia Yole; his children, Susan Kearns and her husband, Gerald, Barbara Scherer and her husband, Hans, Diane Yole, TR Yole and his wife, Mary, Patti Barrett, Jeffrey “Spit” Yole, Lisa Webb, Scott Yole and Mary Beth Moreau and her significant other, William McCullen, Sr.; his step children, Susan Pate and her husband, Michael, Anni Stewart and Peter Taylor and his wife, Kathy; his grandchildren, Keith Scherer and his wife, Casey, Hans Scherer and his wife, Michele, Andrew and Lindsay Yole, Shannan Wierzbicki and her husband, Tim, Timmy Barrett, Jr. and his wife, Nikki , Jennifer Bardin and her significant other, Jay Riehl, Todd Barrett and his wife, Lisa, Connor and Colton Webb, Kaitlin Ingalls Faour and her husband, Rabie, Lauren and Ian Moreau and Ryan Patrick Johnson; his step grandchildren, Julie Wardell and her husband, Judd, Taylor Stewart and his wife, Lisa, Christina Taylor and her husband, Sasha Tochilosky, Alexander Taylor, Kelsey Taylor, Tracy Brayton and her husband, Jeff, Michael Stewart and Jed Stewart and his wife, Jean; 13 great grandchildren; four step great grandchildren; his brother Robert Yole and his wife, Helen; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may call on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 at the Hudson Falls Middle School, 131 Notre Dame Street in Hudson Falls.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday at St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s Church on the park in Hudson Falls.
The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in the town of Fort Edward. Bearers will be his grandsons.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 79 Glenwood Ave., Second Floor, Queensbury, NY 12804 or West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 86 Luzerne Road, Queensbury, NY 12804 or the Fort Edward Rescue Squad, Inc., P.O. Box 226, Fort Edward, NY 12828.
To Julie Wardell and family,
Our hearts and thoughts are with you and your entire family at this time. We are very saddened to hear of the loss of your step-grandfather. We know you loved Tom very much and whenever you talked about him, you spoke with great admiration for him and all of his many, many accomplishments within the community; as well as the great love he had for your grandmother. She is a very lucky woman to have been able to spend the last twenty years or so by his side, as was he to have spent it with her. What a great love they shared.
With his extra caring and loving nature, I am sure he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Love,
Karen Cormie and Bill Quinn
Family,
So sorry for your loss. ..Memories is all we have….take them with you.
Proud…is the word for such a beautiful and loving family . He will always be remembered in the community. My prayers are with you…
Jane
Thank for the kind words. Dad will be missed but he is at peace!
Thank you again
TR
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Tommy all my life. He was the beloved brother of my Uncle Jerry. I always found Tommy to be a caring person with a deep love for his family. My thoughts and prayers are with Tommy’s family during this difficult time. God bless you Tommy.
Patti, TR and rest of family, my condolences in your lost of a great man. Our families’ prayers are with you in this time of sorrow.
Lynette and Pete
Lynette and Pete
Thank you! Dad remembered everyone , either by first name or nickname. HF is full of nicknames , Lapper……we will miss him.Thank you again.
TR
Mary Beth, Scott & family – It is with a heavy heart I send my sincere sympathy to all of you. As a young student, I always enjoyed your Dad. He always had a smile and a kind or funny word. When I had him as the Principal, I remember my Dad telling me he was a teacher when my Dad was in school. He truly left a legacy that is appreciated and remembered.
So saddened to see Time take one of the community’s Best. Mr. Yole’s influence and inspiration have been HUGE.
Our thoughts and hearts go out to the Yole family. even though we did not know Tom long he had touched our hearts in his honesty and compassion. We have not gone many places without people knowing Tom once they heard we had purchased his home they would talk about having stayed in his home or went swimming in his pool. They had many great memories of him and his family. We have not met all of the family but the ones we have, have been caring and helpful and I know your dad would be proud to know how you have treated us, and how many have cherished memories of him and your family. God Bless
Walt And Laura Newton
Yole Family,
I have very fond memories of Grandpa Yole and his entire family. Mr. Yole was always very kind and generous to me. I will always remember how he helped me out by hiring me to mow the lawns of his apartments one summer and how he always made me feel like a welcome part of the family. There is no pain like the pain we feel with the loss of family. I am very, very sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Clayton
Sorry for your loss
We were sorry to learn of Tom Yole’s passing. We have very fond memories of meeting Tom in Hudson Falls while attending the Yole Reunion in 2007. He was a sincere man who resonated intelligence and humor. He was also one of those rare people who left a positive impression with all he came in contact with. Our condolences go out to his wife Patricia, his many children and large extended family.
The Yole families from Surrey, Nelson and Ladner British Columbia Canada (Darryl, Cathy, Matthew & Yvonne Yole)
Susan,
So sorry to hear about your dad. Just know that he is watching over you and the entire family as he always has. Maybe he can visit with my Dad and Brother. Thoughts are with you always, Marty
I’m speaking for all the hundreds of former students of Mr. Yole. He was a very caring teacher. I remember my first day in his class at Glens Falls Junior High when he said that all he asked is that we TRY – as he pointed to his initials on his briefcase.
Thinking of the Yole family members and sending sincere deepest sympathies for you.
Sending deepest sympathies to the Yole family at this time.
Tom was such a wonderful man and a gentlemen. My parents, Hy and Rita Kline rented from Tom on Oak Street and lived next door and were dear friends. My thoughts are with the Yole family.
so sorry for your families lose.He!s in a great place now.No more pain and suffering. Donna
Very sad to hear about your dad passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. He sure brought a wonderful family in this world.
Scott and Cindy
Barb,TR, Jeff and family,
I was so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing and want to extend my condolences to the family. Your dad was one of the “great” ones. He had a positive effect on so many lives as an educator and as a person. I have fond memories of my Junior High years and “Mr. Yole” was one of the big reasons. My families thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Pete Crotty
Our sympathies go out to the Yole family in losing such an upright and talented man. Take comfort in a life well led and the legacy of good remembrances he leaves behind.
Yole family. Dick and I are so sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Lori Henry and Dick VanAernem
To the entire family of Uncle Tom. I’m glad to have visited your father on Monday June 30th.We will both miss him very much.Love Hank and Liz
Dear Yole Family, My thoughts and Prayers are with You All. Your Dad was a Great Man, he was always so kind to everbody. I have many fond memories of him. Sincerely, Mike
Dear Yole Family, My deepest condolences.
Sincerely,Marilyn
To the Yole family, Our thought’s and prayer’s are with you all at this difficult time. Sincerely, Mo and Tom
Yole Family, Our Sympathies, thoughts and prayers to all. Your dad was a true professional and respected leader in the community, and of fine HF family.
JR Diamond and Family
JR
Thank you ! Dad is at peace……
TR
May you all find peace in facing the inevitable and comfort in remembering a life well lived.
my sincere condolances to jeff,t.r. & patti,and the rest of the yole family,especially to my buddy ,”Sit” Yole,unfortunatly i can’t attend the services. My prayers are with all of you sincerely Kevin Irish
my condolances to the yole family,especially t.r.,patti & my buddy “spit” yole
Dear Susan, So sorry to hear about your Dad. I had a medical procedure yesterday and couldn’t drive for 24 hours or I would have been there. He was a very good man and I know you will miss him, but you must have tons of memories that will help you. It brings back the memories of staying at your house when we were very young and Girl Scouts all those years. Once again know that you have been in both Martha”s and my thoughts and prayers.
I’m sure I speak for all the members of The Potter Club at what was then The New York State College for Teachers at Albany (and later SUNY Albany) when we express our condolences to Tom’s family. We are all saddened to hear of Tom’s passing, and will remember him as the dear friend of all Pottermen who attended most of our yearly reunions. I had the pleasure of serving as president of the Potter Club two years after he served in that capacity, and greatly benefited from his leadership and friendship. He was a man of integrity who enriched the lives of all those who came in contact with him during his lengthy career, and we take comfort in the knowledge that he has earned his eternal reward in Our Lord’s Kingdom.
TR & Family—so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. Our thoughts are with you and your extended family. With Sympathy, Mick, Deb & Family
Thank you for your thoughts…. Dad really enjoyed watching our boys play baseball . He always knew the inning, the outs and the score w/out a scorebook .
TR
My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Yole family. May Mr. Yole rest in peace and may you all find comfort in knowing that he will find his reward in Heaven because ‘he has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, and he has kept the faith”. (2 Timothy)
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I remember most our discussions regarding the old 6.2 diesel suburban he drove and loved. A nicer man I never met. Tom,all the kids,my thoughts are w/you.God Bless Still have pictures of Yole and Hewitt boys from Preston Street before the house fire,can send copies. Love Bowser