Thomas William ‘Tom’ Link, 88, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully with his family by his side Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, in Williamsburg, Va., following a short illness. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Link, in 2009.
Tom was born June 27, 1929, to Michael and Catharine Link in Rahway, N.J. He graduated from St. Peter’s High School in New Brunswick, N.J., in 1947 where he co-captained the Cardinals football team and played quarterback. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering at Villanova University in 1951, followed by a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Newark College of Engineering, now known as the New Jersey Institute of Technology. After serving in the U.S. Army, Tom enjoyed a very successful career, first at American Cyanamid, and then at Exxon Corporation, before retiring in 1986.
He met his wife, Constance Anne Carr, in 1950. They were married in 1956, a happy marriage that lasted more than 61 years. They raised their four children in Morristown, N.J., and Caracas, Venezuela, where they lived from 1970 to 1973. In 1996, Tom and Connie moved to Williamsburg, Va., dividing their time between Williamsburg and the Jersey Shore.
Tom cherished his time with his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Connie; daughter, Elizabeth Dibble of Alexandria, Va.; sons, Michael (Jeri) of Park Ridge, Ill.; Lawrence (Kristin) of Los Altos, Calif.; and Richard (Therese) of Danville, Calif. He adored his eight grandchildren and was very much a part of their lives. He loved spending time at the family beach house in Mantoloking, N.J., playing golf and bridge, and mastering the daily New York Times crossword puzzle.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 8, at Saint Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg, followed by a reception at Saint Bede’s Kaplan Parish Hall to remember his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Doctors Without Borders, an organization whose work Tom admired.
Share online condolences with the family at nelsenwilliamsburg.com.
