Thomas Andrew Varrell

The Honorable Thomas "Tom" Andrew Varrell died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at his home in Sun City Center, Florida. Tom was born and raised in Rye, NH to Mary Raeside Varrell of Eliot, ME and Joseph Odion Varrell of Rye, NH. He would have celebrated his 80th birthday this year on September 30th. The Varrells were early settlers of Rye, with the original homestead on Washington Road. He attended schools in Rye, and graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1953. He then enlisted in the military and soon after, married Patricia Ann O'Brien of Framingham, MA and they had three children, Michael, Donna and Linda.

Tom's long rich career took many turns. He earned a bachelor's degree from Penn State, with a second from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey in Operational Analysis, groundbreaking computer sciences at the time, with a focus on meteorology. He retired from the military after serving on active duty with two tours in Vietnam and a station in Rota, Spain. He held the ranks of Captain in the Marine Corp. and when he transferred to the Navy, held the rank of Lieutenant continuing his work in meteorological analysis. Serving his country and upholding the constitution were his highest values. He never let too much time go by without serving in a public capacity. He returned to his roots in Rye when he divorced and retired from the military. He was soon tapped to sit on the planning board and budget commission; and even when he relocated to Danville, NH he joined the budget commission there. He served in New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1995 to 2004, as well as on the NH Nuclear Waste Disposal Committee and the NH Air Pollution Control Board. His career also included time working as Collection Manager for numerous area financial institutions and owning his own NH Lottery Agency at Seabrook Dog Track. Tom was also a member of the American Meteorological Society.

We remember Tom as a doer, an adventurer, a lover of history, and a hobbyist enjoying stamps, coins, books and more. His hobbies also included his love of swimming, as an AAU swim coach, golf and shooting; and, of course a good Clint Eastwood movie. He was always an inspiration to his children, seeing them as individuals and never as boy or girl. "You can be anything you want to be; you choose it." Though his patience for non-action was short, believing that it was our responsibility to "go over, around or through; to figure it out, get it done." Tom was always up for a good argument, even if he was in the minority. His causes ran deep including being a life member of the NRA, member of the VFW Post 4479, American Legion, Rye Lions Club, and his most proud as a Mason of Tucker Lodge #99 F&AM of Raymond, NH.

Tom is survived by his loving wife and partner of the past 13 years, Christine Carbone, by his children and their mother, son, Michael Varrell of St. Petersburg FL and his long-time partner, Bonnie Walker, daughters, Donna Varrell of Contoocook, NH and her husband Jim Arnold, Linda Varrell of Yarmouth, ME and her husband, Paul Cormier, all of their extended families, and by his brother, Robert Varrell, his wife, Sylvia, and his nephew Christopher and his wife, Pamela, as well as myriad cousins living around the country.

Tom's wish was to be buried with honors at the Veteran's Cemetery in Boscawen, NH. Calling hours will be on Monday, June 15, 2015 from 4pm to 7pm at Phaneuf Funeral Home at 172 King St., Boscawen, NH 03303. The committal service will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 11:00am in the Chapel at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery at 110 Daniel Webster Highway also in Boscawen. A reception, open to friends and family, will follow.
We are grateful for the care given to our beloved Tom by both Sun City Center Funeral Home in Florida and Phaneuf Funeral Home in NH as they returned Tom safely to his home state to rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery Association
PO Box 626, Concord, NH 03302-0626 or Rye Lions Club, PO Box 446, Rye, NH 03870 or the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02214-7005.