Thomas Graham Aikenhead

MEMORIAL SERVICE AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE

11 AM on Saturday, September 25, 2021

UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

275 Richards Ave. Norwalk

Thomas Aikenhead died July 9, 2021, at Norwalk Hospital with his family at his side, after an unexpected heart attack two days earlier. He was the son of Donald T. Aikenhead and Nancy Hartzog Aikenhead and brother of Linda Aikenhead Seed of White Bear Lake, Minnesota (deceased), and Steve Aikenhead of Perkinsville, Vermont.

Tom is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carol Kirwan Aikenhead, and four daughters: Sarah Aikenhead (husband Courtney Linn, children Ellie and Becca Linn); Nellie Aikenhead (husband Mark Halliday, children Zachary and Olivia Guion and Max Halliday); Maggie Aikenhead (husband Newell Lessell, children Griffin and Fiona Lessell); and Mary Aikenhead (children Edie and Jasper Aikenhead-Cross).  He is also survived by an extended family of in-laws, nieces and nephews, and dear friends.

Tom hiked and biked, sang, and knew and enjoyed wines.

He loved to rake leaves in the fall, watch the world come awake in the spring, and tell stories of old times all year – and often.

He enjoyed chatting with everyone he met and always made friends with the dog that might be walking nearby.

He read maps.  He traveled on railroads whenever he could.  He balanced his checkbook.

He was a good man.

Tom loved and took pride in his family, his schools, his work, and his community.

Just about everyone he met loved him.

Tom was born in Norwalk Hospital June 3, 1936, grew up in Norwalk, Greens Farms and Fairfield and lived in Norwalk again briefly in the late sixties and from 1977 until his death. He graduated from Yale in 1958 and received a master’s degree from Rutgers.  He worked in the financial offices of Xerox Corporation for 29 years in various locations in the US and Canada.

He was involved in the Norwalk community for many years, serving the West Norwalk Association, The West Norwalk Meeting House Society, the Norwalk Senior Center, and the Norwalk River Watershed Association, and was a member of the Norwalk Conservation Commission.  He ran for the Common Council as a Democratic candidate and worked in the campaigns of several other Democrats. He also served on the Oak Hills Golf Course Board of Governors and on the building committee for the existing Oak Hills restaurant.

He delivered meals for Meals-on-Wheels and drove Norwalk residents to medical appointments for FISH of Norwalk

Tom sang in the Yale Glee Club and with the Yale Alumni Chorus.  He sang in local church choirs and for 17 years with the Fairfield County Chorale.

There will be a memorial celebration of Tom’s life on Saturday, September 25, 11 AM at the United Congregational Church, 275 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT, 06850.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Norwalk Senior Center, the Norwalk River Watershed Association or the Norwalk Symphony.

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