Thomas Joseph Gaylord, 91, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado on Nov. 10, 2023. Born on May 26, 1932, to Clarence and Mary Gaylord in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he was surrounded by much-loved aunts, uncles and cousins. While studying at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, he spent a summer fighting forest fires in Oregon.
After serving in the U.S. Army at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, he moved to Tucson, where he and his wife Joan managed Ranch House Lodge in the foothills. They moved to River Forest, where he worked in landscaping and finance. Always quick to share the wonders of nature, he was involved in Oak Park Boy Scout Troop 16 and founded the Chicago chapter of the Over The Hill Gang before moving to Vail, Colorado to pursue the life of a ski bum. In Vail, he fell in love with Sandra Hower and went on to become director of the Vail Nature Center. Always the naturalist, he volunteered on environmental cleanup projects and led many hiking and skiing groups.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sandra; his children, Kathleen Gilson (Mike Ryba) and Elizabeth Gaylord (David Schutt); his grandchildren, Michael Gaylord (Heather) and Jean Biggins (Todd); several great-grandchildren; and his cousins, Louis Zwingelstein and Mary Cahill.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Joan Levin; his son Timothy; his grandsons, Daniel Gilson, Jeremy Gilson, William Gilson; and several cousins.
Memorial services will be held on July 18 at 10 a.m. at the Vail Nature Center in Vail, Colorado.
Tom stayed involved with the Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, Colorado from the time it was a wishful thought. In lieu of flowers donations to Walking Mountains would be greatly appreciated.