Obituary for Thomas G Terhaar
Thomas G. “Tom” Terhaar, 76, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2019 at St. Francis Nursing Home in Worcester, after suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease for many years.
Tom was born in Buffalo, NY in 1943, the son of the late Robert and Bernice Terhaar. He was a graduated from DeSales Catholic High School in 1961 and a 1965 graduate of Niagara University where he majored in history and law.
Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 and bravely served his country in Vietnam. He, later, proudly served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as a special agent, from 1970-1995. After retiring as a special agent, he later served as a special investigator for the FBI for several years.
Tom leaves behind his wife and the love of his life for 49 years, Doris Jane (Halbert), as well as his children, who adored him, Alissa Slyvia and her husband David of South Dartmouth, Dyana Tull and her husband Kerry of Yarmouth, ME, Brian Terhaar and his wife Maureen of Lyndonville, VT, his grandchildren whom he cherished, Nicole and Michael Lourenco, David and Ryan Sylvia, Connor and Owen Tull, and Jack and Will McLaren. He also leaves his son-in-law, Michael McLaren of Shrewsbury, sister-in-law, Dana Halbert of Chincoteague Island, VA, and niece, Wendy Knarr of Westminster, MD, as well as many other family members and friends. Tom was predeceased by his sister, Judith Crahan, his beloved daughter, Jennifer McLaren, and his brother-in-law, Ronald Halbert.
In his spare time, Tom enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening – he had an incredible green thumb, completing projects around his home – he could build or fix nearly anything, fishing and boating with his brother-in-law, following the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Indians, later becoming a New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox fan, music, and reading.
An incredibly bright, humble, ethical, caring, and witty man, he will be missed terribly by all of us who loved him immensely and are better for having had him in our lives.
The family would like to thank caregiver Rick Carroll and the Family Tree Agency, as well as the staff at St. Francis Nursing Home for the kind and compassionate care that they provided.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Tom’s family between 9:00 and 10:30 AM on Friday November 15, 2019 at the BRITTON-SHREWSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 648 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA, followed by a funeral Mass, which will be celebrated at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA. Burial with military honors will take place in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in Tom’s memory, to the Alzheimer’s Association, via alz.org/donate or via mail: Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.
Tom was born in Buffalo, NY in 1943, the son of the late Robert and Bernice Terhaar. He was a graduated from DeSales Catholic High School in 1961 and a 1965 graduate of Niagara University where he majored in history and law.
Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 and bravely served his country in Vietnam. He, later, proudly served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as a special agent, from 1970-1995. After retiring as a special agent, he later served as a special investigator for the FBI for several years.
Tom leaves behind his wife and the love of his life for 49 years, Doris Jane (Halbert), as well as his children, who adored him, Alissa Slyvia and her husband David of South Dartmouth, Dyana Tull and her husband Kerry of Yarmouth, ME, Brian Terhaar and his wife Maureen of Lyndonville, VT, his grandchildren whom he cherished, Nicole and Michael Lourenco, David and Ryan Sylvia, Connor and Owen Tull, and Jack and Will McLaren. He also leaves his son-in-law, Michael McLaren of Shrewsbury, sister-in-law, Dana Halbert of Chincoteague Island, VA, and niece, Wendy Knarr of Westminster, MD, as well as many other family members and friends. Tom was predeceased by his sister, Judith Crahan, his beloved daughter, Jennifer McLaren, and his brother-in-law, Ronald Halbert.
In his spare time, Tom enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening – he had an incredible green thumb, completing projects around his home – he could build or fix nearly anything, fishing and boating with his brother-in-law, following the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Indians, later becoming a New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox fan, music, and reading.
An incredibly bright, humble, ethical, caring, and witty man, he will be missed terribly by all of us who loved him immensely and are better for having had him in our lives.
The family would like to thank caregiver Rick Carroll and the Family Tree Agency, as well as the staff at St. Francis Nursing Home for the kind and compassionate care that they provided.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Tom’s family between 9:00 and 10:30 AM on Friday November 15, 2019 at the BRITTON-SHREWSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 648 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA, followed by a funeral Mass, which will be celebrated at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA. Burial with military honors will take place in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in Tom’s memory, to the Alzheimer’s Association, via alz.org/donate or via mail: Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.