Thomas Varley Golden

1990 - 2015

EPSOM – Thomas Varley Golden, 25, was born to Jay and Susan Golden in Concord, on Jan. 16, 1990, and died of cancer (Ewing Sarcoma) at the CRVNA Hospice House Friday, July 24, 2015. Tom fought a very long painful and debilitating battle with cancer for six years. His courage, honesty and humor throughout his ordeal was an inspiration to all who knew him. We are very proud of our son who truly showed the quality of his maturity, compassion and thoughtfulness during his illness.

Tom graduated from local schools and briefly attended Concord NHTI until illness forced him to withdraw from enrollment. He was a voracious reader with a wide range of interests, from H. P. Lovecraft to history, poetry to J. R. R. Tolkien, the teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddha to scientific authors. Tom read about it all with a keen sense of relevancy and photographic memory. With that said Tom was very disappointed when movies were made from the writings of Tolkien and J. K. Rowling.

Tom was artistic in nature with many of his unique and very beautiful thematic geometric drawings decorating our house. In addition Tom discovered photography in the later part of his illness and showed a natural talent and great skill in capturing beautiful landscape shots. He photographed flowers, seascapes, sunsets and the family pets that are worthy of publication. Tom had a different way of looking at things, whether through a camera lens, creating with pen or pencil, or especially through verbalizing an opinion or thought. He caught your attention and made you think.

Tom appreciated spending time at his ancestral home, The Waneta House in Pemaquid, Maine. He was the sixth generation to enjoy the majestic setting of this special place. Many tranquil seasons were spent watching seals, ospreys and fish or just relaxing on the sun porch with a good book while listening to classical music on the radio. Collecting shells and sea glass at a leisurely pace or eating lobster fresh from the boat on the back deck were also favorite pastimes.

Tom also showed a very good and usually inappropriate sense of humor which was inherited from and encouraged by the legendary Jacob Varley, his grandfather. Limericks, practical jokes, dry wit and politically incorrect, socially unacceptable t-shirts were Tom's forte. Just ask anyone who knew him and you will hear more than one story. Tom also enjoyed playing video games with family and friends and watching shows and movies in his awesome man-cave.

We wish to thank all of Tom's caregivers and physicians, specifically Dr. Betchart, Tom's PCP, the oncology nurses and staff at Dana - Farber, Londonderry facility, and the staff at CRVNA Hospice. All of you were truly a joy to Tom because he knew how hard you worked on his behalf. We also wish to thank Tom's grandmother, Judy Hanscom for transporting him to his appointments and early chemotherapy treatments. In addition Tom's larger extended family were extremely generous with acts of kindness and cards of encouragement and his parents' fellow employees showed incredible generosity and compassion during the entirety of Tom's illness.

Tom was predeceased by his uncle, Jeff Golden; grandfathers, Jacob Varley and Thomas A. Golden; and family pets, Smokey and Don't Dog. Tom is survived by his parents; maternal grandmother, Judy and Raleigh Hanscom; paternal grandmother, Virgie and Robert Wakefield; Georgia Golden, Aunt Heather and Josh Miller, (Henry, Jacob, Helen), Uncles Paul and Deborah Golden, (Ryan, Chris, Brianna, Jacob), Darryl and Laura Golden, (Samantha, Mathew, Emmilee), Aunts Ela Golden (Tyler and Shanna Trickler), Kim Golden, (Ben Golden, Katherine Golden and Cassie Kile, Joe Golden, Hanna-Joy and Ryan Burgett, Sam Golden), Tim and Brittany Russell, Scott Hanley, David and Michelle Wakefield, Debra and Spencer Seeley; and special Great Aunt and Uncle Stephanie and Wendell Stephenson. Tom is also survived by a very large extended family and friends from all over the country and world. We wish to thank you all for your support.

In accordance to Tom's wishes he hoped that all who knew him would practice random acts of kindness, generosity and never pass up an opportunity to say "I Love You" to the people closest to you in life. If you wish you may contribute donations towards cancer research or a charity of one's choice.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family at a later date.