Thomas Leon Gosselin

THOMAS LEON GOSSELIN, 72 of Naples, FL died June 27, 2012 surrounded by his family at home following a courageous 14-month battle with lymphoma.

Tom was born on August 21, 1939 in Lebanon, NH to Madeline and Leon Gosselin. Tom graduated from Lebanon High School in 1957, Kimball Union Academy after a post graduate year in 1958 and from Boston College in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Tom married Maureen Aher on July 25, 1964.

Tom owned and operated Kleen Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services Inc. with his brother Jim from the time of his graduation from Boston College until Jim's retirement in 1999. Tom continued to own and operate Kleen until the sale of the business in 2006. Tom was very proud of the business that he and Jim built and how much success they had together as third generation operators of the family business taking it from a small local laundry to the largest commercial healthcare laundry in northern New England.

Tom was a tireless champion of the laundry and dry cleaning industry. He served on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Fabricare Association for over 20 years, serving two terms as president and 15 years as the Convention Committee Chairman. Tom was the first person appointed to a lifetime seat as a NEFA director at large. Tom also served on the Board of Directors of the International Drycleaning Congress for over 20 years and received the International Drycleaner of the Year award in 2001 and the George M. Sheperd Award for his leadership in the International Fellowship Program in 2000. Tom served on the Board of Directors of the International Fabricare Institute from 2003 -2007 and was awarded the Keeper of the Flame award for recognition of outstanding contributions in making the industry and association stronger in 1995.

More recently, Tom has devoted his time to Kimball Union Academy. Tom loved KUA and readily admitted that his experience at KUA helped shape him into the man that he became. Tom served on the KUA Alumni Council from 1997-2003 and on the Board of Trustees from 2006-Present.

After coaching hockey in the West Lebanon Youth Hockey Association for many years, Tom became a certified referee. For over 20 years, Tom could be found most weekends at Campion Rink donating his time to officiate all levels of ice hockey games. He especially enjoyed officiating the games at Cardigan Mountain School because of the high level of play. Tom looked forward to the sparring with coaches who did not always agree with his calls on the ice.

Tom was a life-long resident of Lebanon, NH until his retirement in 2006. Upon his retirement, Tom and Maureen moved to Naples, FL. Tom and Maureen also spent their summers in the mountains of Burnsville, NC. Tom loved his mountain home because it always reminded him of NH.

Tom was a member of the Sacred Heart Parrish in Lebanon and served on the finance committee for over 20 years.

Tom is survived by his wife of 48 years, Maureen; three children, daughter Nicole Gosselin Rosen and her daughter Abby, son Gregory Gosselin and his wife Candace Coburn and her daughters Anna and Zoe Langhans, Bridgette Armstrong and her husband Paul and son Max Michaud. Tom is also survived by his sister Pat Bazilchuck of Lebanon, brother James Gosselin of Vero Beach, FL and brother Peter Gosselin of Sherbrooke, Quebec. Tom was especially fond of all of his family and thoroughly enjoyed the family vacations that he was able to take with not only his wife and kids but also the recent trip to Ireland that he made with Maureen and his siblings.

Tom was predeceased by his father Leon Gosselin and his mother Madeline O'Grady Gosselin.

Arrangements are being handled by Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon with calling hours on Monday July 2 between 5pm and 8pm and a mass of catholic burial Tuesday July 3 at 10:30am at Sacred Heart Church in Lebanon.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Cleveland Clinic Florida, Attention Development Office, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd, Weston, FL, 33331.