Nielsen, Thomas

Thomas “Papa” Nielsen (1938-2024)

Thomas Nielsen, 86, of Fairport, NY, died at St. John’s Home surrounded by family, after a brief illness, on November 13.

Tom is preceded in death by parents Carlo F. J. Nielsen and Kirstine Nielsen, and brother Carlo F. Nielsen. He is survived by loving wife Kathryn Nielsen, children Carlo (Trish Corcoran) Nielsen, Wendy (Peter) Veazie, Marilee (Michael) Cannon, Kristine (Thomas) Hollembaek, Thomas (Lynn) Nielsen, Jennifer (Eric) North, grandchildren Michael (Sarah) Cannon, Megan Cannon, Bjarne Nielsen, Jacob Nielsen, Jack Hollembaek, Matthew Veazie, Emma Dedoszak, Connor Nielsen, Katherine Hollembaek, Lauren Dedoszak, Eva Nielsen, Devin Veazie, great-grandchildren Faye and Quinn Cannon, and sisters Ellen Hasenauer and Betty Jane Nielsen, plus loving family and friends.

Tom was born in Rochester, NY, June 24^th, 1938, to Carlo and Kirstine Nielsen, immigrants from Denmark.

An enterprising lad, Tom began working at twelve years old, setting bowling pins and bagging groceries. In high school, he worked as an usher at the Regent Theater on Chestnut St. and East Ave.

He graduated from East High School in 1956, and went to work the following Monday as a draftsman at General Dynamics. Tom then entered the United States Navy, serving a total of six years, with active duty from December 1957 to November 1959, on board the destroyer U.S.S. William R. Rush. He was good with numbers and became a disbursement clerk. He reminisced fondly about his Navy years, especially his time in the Mediterranean. He was once told by a commanding officer: “Nielsen, your personality needs work.” He answered, “That’s why I joined the Navy, Sir.”

After the Navy, he returned to his job at General Dynamics and took accounting classes at RIT night school, but left school to pursue what would become a long and successful selling career in Rochester. He was a born salesman. He sold Addressograph-Multigraph printing machines, and Muzak. He truly hit his stride selling four-color offset printing and worked for various printing houses around Rochester, including Monroe Litho, Ayer & Streb, and finally Cohber Press, retiring in 2000. Tom’s customers loved him and he served them well.

In a room with strangers, Tom would strike up a friendship within minutes. The staff at the Wegmans service desk adored him. As a brother, brother-in-law, father-in-law, uncle, friend and co-worker, he was loyal, generous, supportive and entertaining. As a loving and devoted father, he taught his six children to be fearless, and gave them the opportunity to make mistakes and grow from them. To his twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, he was “Papa,” and he loved each of them for what made them unique and special.

In June, 1955, he met Katie Garofalo, at a school picnic in Ellison Park, and from that moment, they were together for life. In their kitchen, a sign reads “All Because Two People Fell in Love.” They were married in December, 1961, moved the family from Rochester to Fairport in 1965, and raised their children together in a house that they had built on a hilly, wooded lot, beside a creek, on Sunset Trail.

No prior calling. On Tuesday, November 26, at 1:00, funeral service will be held at White Haven Memorial Park, All Seasons Chapel (210 Marsh Road), followed by graveside burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Toys for Tots, St. Jude, March of Dimes, or VFW.