Thomas Ulrich

1936 - 2024

Thomas Ulrich

Ashfield, MA - Former Ashfield Selectman, Thomas Ulrich passed away peacefully at home on January 12th, 2024. He was 87.

Born in New Holland, PA on October 21, 1936, Tom is survived by his wife, Jane and his son, Nicholas.

Tom graduated from Mount Hermon and attended Tufts University before graduating Magnum Cum Laude from Suffolk University. He majored in Finance and Banking while working full-time at what was then known as First National Bank of Boston.

After serving in the Army from 1958-1960, he returned from Korea to Boston where he met his wife, the artist Jane Lund. They married on March 22, 1969.

His pursuit of a graduate degree in Archeology at UMass Amherst prompted the couple to move to the Pioneer Valley. They eventually settled in Ashfield where Nicholas was born and Thomas became an active and beloved member of the community.

Thomas was one of the founding members of The Historical Commission where he served two terms from 1984 to 1990.

He served six terms on the Mohawk Trail Regional School District Committee, for which he was the Chair from 1994 to 1997. He also served on the board of the Mary Lyon Educational Fund in 2000.

Tom served on the Ashfield Select Board from 2006-2010, during this period he also served as the Select Board's representative to the Personnel Board.

Professionally, he worked as a technical editor at the McKesson Corporation and in his spare time he pursued his love of music. Playing the acoustic bass, he was a member of many bands including Five for the Sound in Boston, River Valley Quartet, Four Score, JMPT Quartet and West County Jazz.

A patron of the arts, he also lent his talents to the Valley Light Opera's many productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's well-known operettas as well as for Mohawk High School's popular Broadway musicals, playing in both orchestras. He was especially proud of his work as the prop master for the 1965 Opera Company of Boston's production of "Semiramide" directed by Sarah Caldwell and starring Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne.

Tom and his wife traveled across the United States, Canada and Europe and while at home enjoyed hiking in the White Mountains. He was an avid photographer and exhibited his photographs in a number of local shows. He and his son were passionate Red Sox fans and could be seen in the stands at Fenway every summer.

Thomas was a thoughtful and caring man who was devoted to his family and community. He will be greatly missed.

A private celebration of life event will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mary Lyon Foundation or the Ashfield Fire Department. Arrangements were made under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Shelburne Falls.