NORTHFIELD, Mass. – Thomas W. Boisvert, Professor Emeritus at Greenfield Community College, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. As he wished, he was at home with his family.

Born on Nov. 26, 1948 in Lewiston, to Wilfred and Bernadette Boisvert, Tom was said to have interrupted his mother’s Thanksgiving dinner with his birth.

He graduated from St. Dominic’s High School in Lewiston and continued his education at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham. He then ventured across the country in his 1968 Rambler to study at Utah State University in Logan. There he received his master’s degree in Education and met his future wife, Joanne Gardner, as well as many friends with whom he remained in contact over the years. Many were present when he married Joanne on Sept. 3, 1977 in Maine.

In the fall of 1978, he joined the faculty at Greenfield Community College. For 37 years, Tom taught and encouraged students of all ages and walks of life. He was truly a kind and gentle teacher and, when out in the community, was often greeted fondly by one of his many students.

He began his career in the Media Program and was instrumental in establishing computer technology into this program in the 1980s. Eventually he moved over to the Art Department and taught Graphic Design; for several years, Tom also held the position of Chairman of the Art Department.

Tom and Joanne fell in love with the Pioneer Valley and settled in Northfield, Mass. in 1978. He served on the Northfield Recreation Committee and coached girls’ softball teams as well as cheering on his two daughters in all of their pursuits. His continued love and support for his daughters brought him to dozens of new places in the last two decades since they left home.

Tom was a moral and generous person with an outstanding talent at accepting others for who they are. He enjoyed restoring old houses and took particular interest in window restoration. Together he and Joanne restored three houses in Northfield, Mass. often involving their daughters. An avid cribbage player, lover of craft beer, homemade pizza and the Yankees, Tom enjoyed a good laugh with friends and meeting new people.

After retiring, Tom began growing heirloom tomatoes in his home garden and saving their seeds. Each spring he looked forward to planning and selecting over fifty varieties. Planting the tomatoes from seed, he would then share his “Tom’s Tomatoes” list with friends and give away hundreds of plants.

The highlight of his retirement was frequent trips to Haines, Alaska. In Haines, Tom continued applying his many “Super Dad” carpentry and handyman skills. Over many visits he helped his older daughter, Sally, construct her homestead and commercial vegetable farm, and his younger daughter Marie create home gardens while she also lived in Haines, Alaska before returning to Northfield, Mass. to help care for him. He developed many friendships in Haines, Alaska and volunteered to restore windows at the historic Fort Seward barracks building in appreciation of the local history. He greatly enjoyed playing with his two young grandchildren in Alaska.

He leaves his wife of 44 years, Joanne Gardner; two daughters, Sally Boisvert and her husband Raphael McGuire of Haines, Alaska, and Marie Boisvert, of Northfield, Mass.; a sister, Renee Patterson and husband James of Fresno, Calif., sister-in-law, Joyce Pfleiderer and husband Jeffery of Hinton, W.Va,; two beloved grandchildren, Colleen and Cormac McGuire of Haines, Alaska; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Tom was predeceased by his parents; sister, Susan Lord and by his younger brother, Gerald Boisvert.

The family would love to receive notes of remembrances and memories of Tom from his friends, students, and family.

The family wishes to thank the Baystate Franklin Oncology Department, Dr. John McCann, Helen James CNP, Dr. Dean Singer, Dr. Richard Alexander, Reverend Lloyd Parrill, Pioneer Valley Hospice and countless friends and family for their support and many kindnesses.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Saturday, April 23 at the Northfield Golf Club Beech House, 15 Hotel Rd., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave. Northfield, Mass. is in charge of arrangements. To send condolences please visit http://www.kidderfuneralhome.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tom’s memory to the

Greenfield Community College Scholarship Fund

1 College Drive

Greenfield, MA 01301

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