C. Thomas 'Tom' Hassard
Former superintendent of Union schools, spent a lifetime giving back to the community, loving husband, father, grandfather
C. Thomas "Tom" Hassard, 90, of Union, N.J., died peacefully at home on March 2, 2020.
Born in Norristown, Pa., in 1930 to Marion Feather and Charles Thomas Hassard, former superintendent of Union Schools, Tom moved to Union, N.J., as a young boy and graduated from Union High School in 1947. Tom was an active member of his community from a young age and was an acolyte at Saint Luke's and All Saints Episcopal Church in Union, and an Eagle Scout. He was an educator who was committed to helping kids overcome challenges through love of sports. He treasured spending his summers in Ellsworth, Maine where he developed a love and appreciation of the outdoors and environment.
In high school, Tom was a N.J. State Champion pole vaulter. He was also a collegiate track and field athlete and record holder in the quarter mile at Baylor University. After graduating with a teaching degree in Physical Education, he became a coach and supervisor at the New Jersey School for the Deaf where he met his future wife, Joan Trappe. They wed in 1956.
After settling back in Union, Tom worked as a corrective therapist at the Veteran's Hospital in Lyons, N.J. before securing a job as an adaptive physical education and "posture" teacher in the Union Public School System where he worked for 38 years. Attending school at night, Tom also received a Master's degree from Columbia University. Many students in the Union school system may remember him checking their posture during gym class and having him work with them during their formative years.
Tom was a world class skier who, as a racer, was a member of the 1967 USA Deaflympics Winter Games Ski Team, representing the USA during competition in Berchtesgaden, West Germany. He was also a member and organizer of the Watchung Amateur Ski Club for 68 years.
Tom spent a life time giving back to the community. Some of his accolades include working for both the winter and summer New Jersey Special Olympic Games, officiating college and high school skiing, cross country, and track & field meets. He was team manager for the US Deaf Winter Games Ski Team after ending his ski racing career, and was an assistant ski coach for the Hidden Valley Junior Racing team.
He contributed as a Technical official for the qualifying events for the US Olympic Marathon Team, and 2002 Winter Olympics in SLC, Utah. He was an assistant director of Camp Star summer camp for the disabled - The Arc of Union County, and many other community organizations. Tom will be greatly missed; "The greater the courtesy, the greater the man."
Tom is survived by his wife of almost 64 years, Joan, originally from Hackensack; their son, Charles (Chuck) Hassard and his wife, Robin, of Holladay, Utah, and their daughter, Tamara Pires and her husband, Keith, from Mountainside, N.J., along with five grandchildren, Carly, Jesse and Ruby Hassard; Emily and Jack Pires.
A visitation for Tom will be held Thursday, March 5, 2020, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at McCracken Funeral Home, with funeral service to follow.
In lieu of flowers, his family invites those who remember his dedication to youth and sports by contributing to the Special Olympics New Jersey, 1 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Way, Lawrenceville, N.J. 08648.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Hassard family may be shared at www.McCrackenFuneralHome.com.