Obituary of Thomas J. Houde

Thomas J. Houde, age 93, of Cheshire entered into rest on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at the Paoli Hospital in Paoli, PA. He was the devoted husband of the late Rita (Seifert) Houde. Tom was born on September 17, 1921 in Norwich, son of the late Homer A. and Julia Houde, and has been a Cheshire resident since 1968. Tom was a graduate of Hamden High School, Class of 1939, where he was a member of the Choir and the Glee Club. Soon after, he served his country with pride and honor with the US Army during WWII in the 725FA Battalion, and was a Marksman, sharp shooter. He was in three branches of the Army; Field Artillery, Infantry and the Army Air Forces. While in the service he attended Kansas State for pilot school, but because of flying personnel cutbacks he returned to Field Artillery and spent 15 months with the Occupation Troops in Germany, where he met his wife, Rita, near the end of WWII. They fell in love and were married in 1961. Tom then went on to The Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education from Tufts University. Tom worked for the New Haven Board of Education as an Art Teacher for 32 years, retiring in 1984. His claim to fame is his portrait of FDR, which can be seen at the famous Velvet Caves in Valkenburg, The Netherlands, which he created during his occupation duty during WWII. Tom loved to draw, and produced many cartoons and other works of art, he appreciated Classical music and could often be heard singing Frank Sinatra's "High Hopes". Tom is the beloved father of Danielle Slouf and her husband John of Downingtown, PA, and loving grandfather of his cherished grandchildren Kimberly J. Slouf and Michael D. Slouf. He was predeceased by his twin brother Francis Houde; and his other siblings John Shea of WV, Mary Trant of Mystic and Sr. Catherine Flaherty of Hartford. His Funeral Service will be held at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 South Main St., Cheshire, on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 11:30AM. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow at Cheshire Hillside Cemetery. Friends may greet the family at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30AM-11:30AM. At the request of his family, memorial contributions in Tom’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice.