Obituary of Tom Sawyer, Jr.

Thelbert "Tom" Lee Sawyer, Jr., of Lower Township, NJ, died on August 12, 2021. Tom, born June 15, 1946, was the son of the late Thelbert L. Sr. and Marcella (nee Wagner) Sawyer. He was raised in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, spending summers at Two Mile until his family moved to Wildwood Crest when he was 9. He attended Philip P. Baker School & graduated from Wildwood High in 1964. He served in the Coast Guard reserve. He began his career with Snow's Canning Company right after high school, first as a clam shucker then as a diesel mechanic and eventually retired after 50 years as their head boiler operator. Tom spent his childhood fishing & hunting. He enjoyed taking the family snowmobiling in the winters and crabbing or fishing on the family boat in summers. He also shot sporting clays competitively. Always willing to lend a hand or teach a skill, Tom made sure to take the time to pass on his knowledge to his children & grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Barbara "Bobbie" (nee Olson), 2 children James (Mary) and Jennifer. 5 grandchildren: Suzanne, Rachel, James, Sienna, Lilah and great granddaughter Lacey. He was always very close to his cousins & his two lifelong friends Norm and George. Tom will be greatly missed by his family, best friends and many others whose lives he touched. Tom was a tissue donor through "Gift of Life." A celebration of life will take place in September, the date still to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Tom's name to The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (www.whoi.edu) or The American Littoral Society (littoralsociety.org) or The Cape May Fisherman's Memorial.