Westerly - Thomas Kermit (Orntlich) Aalund, 86, of Westerly, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016.
Thomas was born in Oru, Koegemae, Estonia, the son of Bernhard Orntlich and Elsa Orntlich (Aalund, ne. Bergmann).
As a boy, growing up within walking distance of the sea, he developed an interest in early voyages and exploration, interests that would continue throughout his life. Thomas was greatly influenced by his grandmother, Martha, who helped raise him and instilled in him old world values and traditions that he would later pass on to his own family.
Childhood in Tallinn was interrupted by World War II. In June 1944, after both Russian and German bombings and occupations, Thomas, along with his mother, began a year-long journey westward toward safety and freedom. After the war, they settled in Lübeck, Germany to await entry into the United States as displaced persons under the International Refugee Program. In November 1950 he and his mother boarded the USNS General C. C. Ballou bound for New York.
They settled in Woodhaven, Queens with his aunt and uncle and through hard work purchased a home in 1952. He attended Brooklyn Polytech, married and started a family in Roslyn, N.Y. He began his career as an electronic engineer for The Siegler Corporation. While at Siegler, he worked on the development of an intelligence-storing device for recording equipment for which he is credited with a U.S. Patent (US3019301-A). In his free time, he bred and showed German Shepherds, studied drafting and architecture, became an avid sailor, and assisted his artist wife with her painting career.
In 1974, Tom left engineering and moved his family to Mystic. He established the Trade Winds Gallery, an art gallery specializing in maritime paintings, photographs, prints, antique maps and custom framing. The gallery soon became a fixture in downtown Mystic and enjoyed a loyal clientele, both with seasonal visitors and local residents. In May of 2000, a fire destroyed the Central Hall Block where the gallery was located at the time. Unwilling to be forced into retirement at age 70, Tom reopened the gallery at another downtown location and continued in business for another five years. He was director of Trade Winds for 31 years, in seven different downtown locations, before retiring in November of 2005 when he sold the business to a former Long Island native.
During retirement, Tom enjoyed time with family and friends. A life-long student of language and history, he enjoyed reading books in their original language. Other interests included sailing, music, French cuisine and fine automobiles. Through his own on-line research, he reconnected and corresponded with distant relatives and discovered and contacted four half-siblings in Sweden.
Tom remained active, lived independently, dined with friends and family, and continued to drive his own cars, even up to the week of his passing.
He is survived by his daughters, Ingrid Skinner and her husband, John, and Astrid Aalund; granddaughters, Lisa, Karen, Rachel and Aryel; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his "son-in-law," John Brosnan and his ex-wife, Suzy Aalund.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter or a veteran's organization of your choosing.
Published in The Day on Sept. 13, 2016.
Thomas was born in Oru, Koegemae, Estonia, the son of Bernhard Orntlich and Elsa Orntlich (Aalund, ne. Bergmann).
As a boy, growing up within walking distance of the sea, he developed an interest in early voyages and exploration, interests that would continue throughout his life. Thomas was greatly influenced by his grandmother, Martha, who helped raise him and instilled in him old world values and traditions that he would later pass on to his own family.
Childhood in Tallinn was interrupted by World War II. In June 1944, after both Russian and German bombings and occupations, Thomas, along with his mother, began a year-long journey westward toward safety and freedom. After the war, they settled in Lübeck, Germany to await entry into the United States as displaced persons under the International Refugee Program. In November 1950 he and his mother boarded the USNS General C. C. Ballou bound for New York.
They settled in Woodhaven, Queens with his aunt and uncle and through hard work purchased a home in 1952. He attended Brooklyn Polytech, married and started a family in Roslyn, N.Y. He began his career as an electronic engineer for The Siegler Corporation. While at Siegler, he worked on the development of an intelligence-storing device for recording equipment for which he is credited with a U.S. Patent (US3019301-A). In his free time, he bred and showed German Shepherds, studied drafting and architecture, became an avid sailor, and assisted his artist wife with her painting career.
In 1974, Tom left engineering and moved his family to Mystic. He established the Trade Winds Gallery, an art gallery specializing in maritime paintings, photographs, prints, antique maps and custom framing. The gallery soon became a fixture in downtown Mystic and enjoyed a loyal clientele, both with seasonal visitors and local residents. In May of 2000, a fire destroyed the Central Hall Block where the gallery was located at the time. Unwilling to be forced into retirement at age 70, Tom reopened the gallery at another downtown location and continued in business for another five years. He was director of Trade Winds for 31 years, in seven different downtown locations, before retiring in November of 2005 when he sold the business to a former Long Island native.
During retirement, Tom enjoyed time with family and friends. A life-long student of language and history, he enjoyed reading books in their original language. Other interests included sailing, music, French cuisine and fine automobiles. Through his own on-line research, he reconnected and corresponded with distant relatives and discovered and contacted four half-siblings in Sweden.
Tom remained active, lived independently, dined with friends and family, and continued to drive his own cars, even up to the week of his passing.
He is survived by his daughters, Ingrid Skinner and her husband, John, and Astrid Aalund; granddaughters, Lisa, Karen, Rachel and Aryel; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his "son-in-law," John Brosnan and his ex-wife, Suzy Aalund.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter or a veteran's organization of your choosing.
Published in The Day on Sept. 13, 2016.
Westerly - Thomas Kermit (Orntlich) Aalund, 86, of Westerly, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016.
Thomas was born in Oru, Koegemae, Estonia, the son of Bernhard Orntlich and Elsa Orntlich (Aalund, ne. Bergmann).
As a boy, growing up within walking distance of the sea, he developed an interest in early voyages and exploration, interests that would continue throughout his life. Thomas was greatly influenced by his grandmother, Martha, who helped raise him and instilled in him old world values and traditions that he would later pass on to his own family.
Childhood in Tallinn was interrupted by World War II. In June 1944, after both Russian and German bombings and occupations, Thomas, along with his mother, began a year-long journey westward toward safety and freedom. After the war, they settled in Lübeck, Germany to await entry into the United States as displaced persons under the International Refugee Program. In November 1950 he and his mother boarded the USNS General C. C. Ballou bound for New York.
They settled in Woodhaven, Queens with his aunt and uncle and through hard work purchased a home in 1952. He attended Brooklyn Polytech, married and started a family in Roslyn, N.Y. He began his career as an electronic engineer for The Siegler Corporation. While at Siegler, he worked on the development of an intelligence-storing device for recording equipment for which he is credited with a U.S. Patent (US3019301-A). In his free time, he bred and showed German Shepherds, studied drafting and architecture, became an avid sailor, and assisted his artist wife with her painting career.
In 1974, Tom left engineering and moved his family to Mystic. He established the Trade Winds Gallery, an art gallery specializing in maritime paintings, photographs, prints, antique maps and custom framing. The gallery soon became a fixture in downtown Mystic and enjoyed a loyal clientele, both with seasonal visitors and local residents. In May of 2000, a fire destroyed the Central Hall Block where the gallery was located at the time. Unwilling to be forced into retirement at age 70, Tom reopened the gallery at another downtown location and continued in business for another five years. He was director of Trade Winds for 31 years, in seven different downtown locations, before retiring in November of 2005 when he sold the business to a former Long Island native.
During retirement, Tom enjoyed time with family and friends. A life-long student of language and history, he enjoyed reading books in their original language. Other interests included sailing, music, French cuisine and fine automobiles. Through his own on-line research, he reconnected and corresponded with distant relatives and discovered and contacted four half-siblings in Sweden.
Tom remained active, lived independently, dined with friends and family, and continued to drive his own cars, even up to the week of his passing.
He is survived by his daughters, Ingrid Skinner and her husband, John, and Astrid Aalund; granddaughters, Lisa, Karen, Rachel and Aryel; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his "son-in-law," John Brosnan and his ex-wife, Suzy Aalund.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter or a veteran's organization of your choosing.
Published in The Day on Sept. 13, 2016.
Thomas was born in Oru, Koegemae, Estonia, the son of Bernhard Orntlich and Elsa Orntlich (Aalund, ne. Bergmann).
As a boy, growing up within walking distance of the sea, he developed an interest in early voyages and exploration, interests that would continue throughout his life. Thomas was greatly influenced by his grandmother, Martha, who helped raise him and instilled in him old world values and traditions that he would later pass on to his own family.
Childhood in Tallinn was interrupted by World War II. In June 1944, after both Russian and German bombings and occupations, Thomas, along with his mother, began a year-long journey westward toward safety and freedom. After the war, they settled in Lübeck, Germany to await entry into the United States as displaced persons under the International Refugee Program. In November 1950 he and his mother boarded the USNS General C. C. Ballou bound for New York.
They settled in Woodhaven, Queens with his aunt and uncle and through hard work purchased a home in 1952. He attended Brooklyn Polytech, married and started a family in Roslyn, N.Y. He began his career as an electronic engineer for The Siegler Corporation. While at Siegler, he worked on the development of an intelligence-storing device for recording equipment for which he is credited with a U.S. Patent (US3019301-A). In his free time, he bred and showed German Shepherds, studied drafting and architecture, became an avid sailor, and assisted his artist wife with her painting career.
In 1974, Tom left engineering and moved his family to Mystic. He established the Trade Winds Gallery, an art gallery specializing in maritime paintings, photographs, prints, antique maps and custom framing. The gallery soon became a fixture in downtown Mystic and enjoyed a loyal clientele, both with seasonal visitors and local residents. In May of 2000, a fire destroyed the Central Hall Block where the gallery was located at the time. Unwilling to be forced into retirement at age 70, Tom reopened the gallery at another downtown location and continued in business for another five years. He was director of Trade Winds for 31 years, in seven different downtown locations, before retiring in November of 2005 when he sold the business to a former Long Island native.
During retirement, Tom enjoyed time with family and friends. A life-long student of language and history, he enjoyed reading books in their original language. Other interests included sailing, music, French cuisine and fine automobiles. Through his own on-line research, he reconnected and corresponded with distant relatives and discovered and contacted four half-siblings in Sweden.
Tom remained active, lived independently, dined with friends and family, and continued to drive his own cars, even up to the week of his passing.
He is survived by his daughters, Ingrid Skinner and her husband, John, and Astrid Aalund; granddaughters, Lisa, Karen, Rachel and Aryel; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his "son-in-law," John Brosnan and his ex-wife, Suzy Aalund.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter or a veteran's organization of your choosing.
Published in The Day on Sept. 13, 2016.
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