Thomas F. Palmatier

Thomas F. Palmatier, 87, of Ashlar Village, Wallingford, passed away May 31, 2011. Husband of the late Susan Megary Palmatier, he is survived by his daughter Meg Palmatier of Woodbridge, CT, son Tim Palmatier of San Rafael, CA, and granddaughter Caity Brash. Thomas is also survived by a brother, Francis M. Palmatier of Southington, CT, a sister, Alice P. Ryan of New Milford, CT, and several nieces and nephews. He was born in Greenwich, CT on Feb. 23, 1924, a son of the late Thomas F. and Hilda Larson Palmatier, and served in the US Army during WW II in Europe as a heavy mortar crewman. Thomas attended the University of Iowa, received his BS degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of New Haven, and an AS degree in Electrical Engineering from Greater New Haven State Technical College. He was an operations manager for AT&T Long Lines Department and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Telstar communications satellite tracking station in Andover, ME and other telecommunications sites in the Northeast. Upon retiring from AT&T after more than 40 years, he was employed as a Technical Assistant in the Computer Services Dept. of Gateway Community College in North Haven for 10 years. Mr. Palmatier was a member of Faith United Methodist Church, Corinthian Lodge #103, A.F. & A. M., and the Telephone Pioneers of America. A memorial service will be held in the auditorium of the Hartog Activity Center, Ashlar Village, Cheshire Road, Wallingford, CT on Friday, June 24th, at 3 p.m. Interment in the Masonic Cemetery will be at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are in care of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Masonic Charity Foundation, P.O. Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492 or to Faith United Methodist Church, 81 Clintonville Rd., North Haven, CT 06473.