Thomas Herbert ’50

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and BANGOR – Tom Herbert, 82, a Bangor native, died Jan. 26, 2012, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He was the son of the late Thomas R. and Louise E. (Aucoin) Herbert. Tom attended Bangor schools, graduating from John Bapst in 1947, where he was a three-sport athlete and two-way starter on the 1946 football team that won all of its games and was recognized as the large school state champs. In 1950, Tom graduated from Maine Maritime Academy where he led the football team in pass receptions two years and won 16 games throughout three years as a baseball pitcher. He also lettered in basketball. After MMA, Tom served more than four years in the Merchant Marine. He visited many ports around the world, and made several trips into Puson and Inchon during the Korean War. In January 1955, Tom married Anna Curley, an East Millinocket native, and then entered the Navy. He had tours of duty aboard five Navy ships and four shore facilities, including being assigned to the Pentagon from January 1961 to April 1963, the Kennedy years. In 1969, Tom was commissioning executive officer of USS Seattle, the largest ship then ever built on the West Coast. He served aboard Seattle for two years. One of Tom’s Navy awards was the Meritorious Service Medal – a Presidential Award and Tom received his for the work he did at Naval Station Philadelphia in the early ’70s. Tom retired from the regular Navy in 1977 as a commander. Out of the service Tom managed a Jacksonville, Fla., company that provided technical support to Navy ships until 1993 when he fully retired. In retirement, Tom and Anna spent many days with their five children, and really got to know and enjoy their 10 grandchildren. They traveled a lot visiting many popular sites. They strolled the streets of Paris; cruised the Rhine River; toured the Bavarian Alps; admired the Grand Canyon from the South Rim; spent time in San Francisco and Las Vegas; and often vacationed on the coast of Maine. Another interesting site they visited was Gettysburg, Pa. They went there several times to walk the battlefields, climb the round tops, and spend hours in the visitor’s center. Tom and Anna also enjoyed cruises and thought the modern cruise ships with their luxuries were the ideal vacation. They tried to take a cruise every year. On these Tom got his greatest enjoyment being on deck with a mug of black coffee to watch the sun rise. Tom is survived by Anna, his wife of 57 years, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; five children, James Herbert and wife, Valerie, of Hampden, Pat Herbert Evans of Atlantic Beach, Fla., Peter Herbert and wife, Tracie, of Vernon, Fla., Tracy McKinley and husband, Gary, and Nancy Erickson and husband, Charlie, all of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Herbert, George Evans III, Jessika and Shaun Herbert, Joseph, Kelly and Katie McKinley, and Edward and Daniel Erickson; siblings, Bentley Herbert and wife, Marilyn, of Cape Neddick, Mona Trafton of Levant and Las Vegas, Mary Hall and husband, Warren, of Green Lake and Port Canaveral, Fla., Mike Herbert and wife, Sherry, of Holden; and many nieces and nephews. Tom will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements by Quinn-Shalz, A Family Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Please visit our online tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com.

Published in BDN Maine on February 6, 2012