Thomas H Poole

Thomas Howard Poole (1932-2024) 

Thomas Howard Poole, 91, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, died peacefully in his sleep in Jacksonville, Florida after a long period of illness on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024. 

Thomas was born on October 14th, 1932 in Durham, North Carolina to Roland Howard Poole and Mae Bowles Poole. His younger brother, Wayne, was born in 1946. Tom attended Durham High School where his fondest memories involved being a part of several state championship football teams. Immediately upon graduation in 1950, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving overseas during the Korean War. During his time in the Air Force, he was stationed in Japan, Texas and Maine. After his time in the military, he spent two years in Sitka, Alaska where he worked as a construction worker, a fish cutter and a waiter. He also lived for a time in San Francisco, CA, which he always called America’s most beautiful city. Returning home, Tom would attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Asiatic History.  He then returned to Maine where he had been stationed at Dow Air Force Base, and pursued a master’s degree in education (1965). It was also during this time that he met and married his first wife, Elizabeth Hurd of Waterville. Tom took his first education job on the island of Vinalhaven, where he worked as a coach, teacher and principal (1965-1966). Sadly, during this time, Elizabeth was gravely ill and in 1966 they were forced to return to the mainland where she could get necessary care until she passed in 1967. During this difficult time Tom worked in administration at Berwick High School from 1966-1968. Then from 1968-1972, he served as principal of Lawrence High School in Fairfield, ME. At Lawrence, Tom met and married Mary Jane Dudley of Belgrade Lakes and they welcomed their first child, James Samuel Poole in 1971. After spending two years at the University of Miami (1972-1974), and welcoming a second child, Charles Howard Poole, Tom earned his doctoral degree while heading the Cuban Teachers’ Program. Tom became principal of Sallie Jones Elementary School in Punta Gorda, Florida (1974-1976). In 1976, Tom and his family returned to Maine, this time to the coastal town of Blue Hill, where in 1978 they welcomed a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Poole. Here, Tom worked as superintendent of the Blue Hill Consolidated School System until 1980. 

A career change in 1980 led him to Paine Webber (later UBS), where he worked as a stockbroker and financial planner. He worked first in the Bangor, ME office until 1991 and then transferred south, to Jacksonville, FL, where he worked until his retirement in 2015. He counted many clients as friends.

Chief among his affections were his family and his country. He loved to share stories of his many aunts, uncles,and cousins and more than anything was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. Tom loved everything about the United States: the landscape, the people, the history and the heritage. He loved cars, old and new and airplanes of all sorts. He had a passion for good food and travel, especially when either involved time with his family or friends. 

Tom was predeceased by his parents, Howard and Mae, many treasured aunts, uncles and cousins, his first wife, Elizabeth Hurd Poole, a brother-in-law, Tyler Edward Dudley, as well as several life-long friends from his earliest days in Durham. He is survived by three children, James Samuel Poole (52), Charles Howard Poole (49), and Sarah Elizabeth Thompson (45); a daughter-in-law, Ena Susilwati Poole; two grandchildren, Grayson Alexander Thompson (6) and Leander Azril Poole (5); his brother, Marcus Wayne Poole; his former wife, Mary Jane Poole; cousins Suellen Poole Berry and Thomas Berry and others; his niece, Rebecca Johnson; his nephew, Bradley Johnson; his close friend and confidant, Sissy Nader; and his best friends of over 80 years, Robert “Bobby” Jones and Arthur “Ace” Noel. 

A memorial service will be held at Hudson Funeral Home at 211 S Miami Blvd Durham, North Carolina 27703 on Saturday March 2, 2024 at 11 am. Family will receive friends following the service. Flowers are welcome or you may make a donation in Thomas’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-