Thomas J. Taylor Sr.

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Thomas Joseph Taylor Sr., 88, of Manchester, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday November 13th.

Born and raised in Middletown, Thomas was the son of Thomas Patrick Taylor and Bridget Eileen Taylor. He attended St. John’s parochial school and then  Middletown High School, where he lettered in Basketball. After graduating in 1954, Thomas enlisted in the Army with his best friend Dick Dooley. While in the Army he joined the Paratroopers and was stationed at Fort Liberty, formerly known as Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After receiving an honorable discharge, he would return to Middletown and marry his high school sweetheart, Marie Milardo. The couple would have two children, Thomas Joseph Taylor Jr and Donna Marie Taylor. 

Thomas went on to graduate from the University of Hartford School of Accounting, now known as the University of Hartford. Professionally Thomas first found success in the auto industry before eventually finding his calling in the wine and spirits industry. Over nearly 45 years he would own many retail outlets, both large and small, in the Greater Hartford area. For the last 16 years he has owned and operated, with the help of his daughter Donna, Addison Fine Wine and Spirits on Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury. It was here, in this tiny store,  that Thomas developed an almost “cult-like” following with his clientele. They were not just customers, but friends that he formed a special bond with. 

In his spare time, Thomas loved fine wine and good food. Most of all he was an avid Boston sports fan, especially passionate about the New England Patriots. It seems only fitting that in the last year of his life he was able to see the Boston Celtics win their 18th title, the UConn Men win back to back championships and the New England Patriots win three days before his passing.

Thomas is survived by a daughter,  Donna Marie Taylor (Ethier) and her husband Mark Ethier; a son, Thomas Joseph Taylor Jr, his wife Shannon Taylor; three brothers: Patrick Taylor and wife Alice Taylor, John Taylor and wife Roseann Taylor and Joseph Taylor and wife Denise Taylor; five grandchildren: Aaron Taylor, Alyssa Sullivan and her husband Christopher Sullivan, Ashlynn Taylor, Eleni Medici and her fiancé, Nikhil Bachhawat and Cory Taylor; and two great-grandchildren, Desmond Sullivan and Wesley Sullivan.  It should be noted that Thomas was  especially diligent about texting or calling each of his children and grandchildren on a daily basis. 

Thomas was predeceased by his father Thomas Patrick Taylor, mother Bridget Eileen Taylor and sister, Evelyn Taylor (Bruzik). 

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, December 7th at 10 a.m. at St. John’s Church, Middletown.  Friends may call at the Lastrina Family Funeral Home, 491 High St., Middletown on Friday, December 6th from 5 to 7 p.m.  Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Middletown.  In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Thomas’s name to the Manchester Food Pantry at 460 Main St., Manchester CT, 860-647-0440.