SLINGERLANDS – Thomas Raymond Collins, 95, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2014 at the Eddy Village Green at Beverwyck. Thomas was born on October 7, 1918 in Newark, New Jersey. He was the son of Raymond Taylor Collins and Marian (Amole) Collins. He grew up in the Atlantic City area and graduated from Pleasantville High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from October 1941 through August 1945, primarily as an aviation mechanic’s mate on the USS Barnes, an aircraft escort carrier deployed in the Pacific. While on shore leave, he met his future wife, Marjorie A. Lakness, who resided in Hollywood, California. The couple married in 1945 and traveled by train across the country, ultimately settling in New Jersey and then New York City, to pursue higher education under the G.I. Bill of Rights. Thomas earned his Bachelor’s degree in History from Trenton State Teachers’ College and his M.A. From Columbia University.
As a teacher, Thomas continued his own education by taking numerous post-graduate courses at multiple universities in the Northeast. He held a series of progressively responsible positions in schools in New Jersey and Long Island. Thomas and Marjorie moved to Delmar in 1971 when he was employed as the social studies curriculum coordinator for the Bethlehem public schools. After their first retirement, they went overseas for a two-year contract with the International School in Tehran, Iran. Subsequently, he taught in the Department of Defense school for children of servicemen in Okinawa, Japan, while Marjorie worked in that school’s office.
Thomas was an avid golfer and passionate reader. Even in his last year, he enjoyed discussing current events and their historical context. He also loved to sing and listen to jazz.
Thomas was preceded in death by his beloved wife; his parents; a sister, Ruth Wooten Chase; and two brothers, Howard Collins, and Raymond T. Collins, Jr. He is survived by one sister, Doris Jacobs of California, and his two children, John Collins (Dorothy), an attorney residing in Willingboro, New Jersey, and Susan Collins, a retired archaeologist in Boulder, Colorado. There are three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews throughout the United States.
Thomas was a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany. It was his desire to donate his body to science. A memorial will take place at a later date. To leave a message of condolence for the family or send a sympathy card, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
Joanne Bushart
As a volunteer at Beverwyck,I was privileged to meet your beloved Father this past fall. He and I shared some glorious afternoons in the sunshine talking about his experiences in Tehran and Bethlehem High School. When I realized that we shared a love of history, I brought in the recent book about Abraham Lincoln, Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin and he enjoyed listening to her “behind the scenes” research about Lincoln and his Cabinet. I must tell you he was able to share with me his careful analysis of the “War Between the States” that would have made any current history professor proud.
He was a wonderful man and was so proud of both of you. I will miss him. Please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss.
Sincerely,
Joanne Bushart
Ann Brandon
My husband and I knew Tom and Marge Collins for many years through the Unitarian Universalist Church in Albany. My special connection with Tom was through the choir where I was the choir director and really appreciated his wonderful tenor voice. I admired his interest in the world, teaching in Iran and Japan. He had a keen interest in everyone and was always so cheerful. The world was a better place with the contributions he made. He will be missed.
Sincerely, Ann & Dave Brandon
Carol Rosernthal
Please accept my sincerest sympathy on the loss of your dad. He was a sweet and gentle man and I was always happy to see him when he appeared at the Terrace at Beverwyck’s Reception desk. I enjoyed him very much. He was loyal to your mom –always going to the EVG when she had moved there. He was missed at the Terrace when it was necessary for him to move to the EVG. Susan, I enjoyed meeting you when you came in from Colorado to visit your parents. Tom will be missed,
Sincerely, Carol Rosenthal,
Receptionist at the Terrace at Beverwyck
carolyn Fellows
I am so sorry to learn ofTom’s passing on. I knew him for too short a time when I was volunteer pianist at EVG. I loved his tenor voice, and he would always join in singing everything I played. But, he once told me I didn’t play in his key He spoke fondly of his many musical organizations. I know he had a good life, and made a great contribution to the lives he touched.”Sincerely, Carolyn Fellows