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Thomas Gilbert Eldred
1933 - 2025
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Thomas Eldred Obituary
January 16, 1933 - October 3, 2025
UNION SPRINGS - Thomas Gilbert Eldred, 92, of Union Springs, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Auburn Community Hospital. He was born on January 16, 1933, in Rochester, N.Y., to the late Millard Frederick and Helen Anna Jenne Eldred. Tom earned his BA degree at SUNY Albany in 1954, and MA degree at Syracuse University in 1965 as a certified Social Studies teacher. He also attended University of Cambridge, Southern University and A&M College.
Tom was a well-respected and inspirational social studies teacher in the Union Springs School district from 1954 to 1992. He was a mentor to many students, always sharing his knowledge and a joke or two. Tom was the boy's golf coach, which included the championship golf team of 1982. He was a class advisor in addition to advisor for the Yorkers Club, Model UN, Model Congress and Student Government. He organized many trips and activities for his students. He was a frequent speaker at commencements. Tom was very involved in the Boy Scouts as a scout master and troop leader. He shared his love of baseball as a little league coach.
Along with teaching, he was the Cayuga County historian from 1974 to 2001, a four-term state president of the County Historian Association, and founder of the Frontenac Historical Society in Union Springs in 1975. Tom received many awards as well. He earned the Valley Forge Classroom Teachers medal, Clinton award for community service, the Outstanding Teacher of American History in 1982, named among the Outstanding Secondary Educators of America in 1974. Tom was also a member of the American Association for State and Local History, National Country for Social Studies, National Railway Historical Society, New York State United Teachers, New York State Historical Association, and a member of the USCS Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2013.
He is survived by cousins, close friends, and community members of Union Springs and Auburn.
In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his brother, James Stephen Eldred, and sister, Maryann Olsen.
There will be an open visitation from 3 to 6 p.m., with no receiving line because the community was his family, on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Brew Funeral Home, 48 South Street, Auburn. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Episcopal Church of Sts. Peter and John, 169 Genesee Street, Auburn, with a committal service to follow at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Union Springs.
Contributions may be made to Union Springs Fire Department, P.O. Box 72, Union Springs, NY 13160, or to the Episcopal Church of Sts. Peter and John, 169 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021, in memory of Thomas Gilbert Eldred.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Eldred
Sponsored by Brew Funeral Home - Auburn.
4 Entries
Kirk Jenne
October 10, 2025
Tom Eldred and I shared a number of things as cousins, besides common grandparents and January birthdays, but especially an abiding interest in American history and an essentially natural patriotism. His encyclopedic knowledge of American history was difficult to match. He, however, never adopted a superior tone when we were discussing American history, but rather delivered his points in a calm, objective, and fair fashion - as he did in essentially everything. His many, many students were certainly lucky to have him as a teacher, and his community, as a resident.
Although Tom and I were as they say "family" and I was glad to call him "Cousin", I think his "family" was much larger and included his legions of former students, his Church, Scouting, and his community writ large. To all activities and people, I am certain Tom brought much knowledge, wisdom, generosity, and a large heart. I am beyond sad to see Tom gone. Kirk Jenne
Larry Drown
October 8, 2025
Mister Eldred was a man of many talents. His depth of knowledge was amazing, and he had that rare gift of wanting his students to relate to their own history.
His dry sense of humor made interactions a pleasure.
He will be remembered as one of the area's legends.
Karen Emery Nadolny
October 8, 2025
Mr Eldred was one of my teachers and a great one. He made social studies fun and easy to learn. He was our class advisor and attended many of our class reunions. He will be missed by us.
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