Thomas Hattery

1954 - 2024

Thomas Harold Hattery was born on January 20, 1954 in Silver Spring, Maryland. He died on October 10, 2024 at his home near Mt. Airy, Maryland, peacefully and in charge.

The most admirable and formidable quality of Tom was his deep, sincere, and fierce commitment to fairness and respect for all people. As a man, citizen, and public official he consistently fought against racism and bigotry in any form. His resolute personality allowed him to work through obstinance to achieve his goals of improving the human condition and the condition of our planet Earth.

Two other loves of Tom's life were his family farm and piloting his Cessna 140. He grew up, raised his family, and spent most days enjoying the beauty of the farm. He could ride almost any horse, herd cattle, relish using his tools for projects, and with enough cussing, fix almost any piece of farm machinery. His grandchildren, friends, and family continue to care for and enjoy this unique and spectacular Maryland land.

In the last week before his death he wrote:

To those who knew me, I've gone from the major to the minor chords of the cycle of life. I'm now on my way back to the stars from which I came. If you don't believe me, stop by my grave in 5 billion years from now.

I've lived a lucky life. I've loved every job I've had spanning more than 50 years. With perhaps the exception of a job at our local feed mill, the joy of my work has come from knowing that I was contributing to a better society. Many are lucky if they can find such work once in a lifetime. I've been lucky, without exception, about six times. How can one hope for a luckier life than that?

Here are a few highlights. From a very young age I worked on the family farm in Frederick County Maryland (near Mt. Airy). As so many do, farmwork overlapped with other jobs for many years. I loved my work as a Congressional staffer, and then a Maryland legislative staffer, working on important political campaigns, and then being elected to the Maryland House of Delegates (served from 1983 to 1995). Thanks again to those who voted for me in those elections of yore!

For the next almost thirty years I worked, first with the Maryland Energy Administration and then the U.S. Department of Energy to upgrade government buildings to use cleaner, more efficient energy.

As I'm sure you do dear reader, I love my family more than life itself. Some of you may remember my wonderful parents, Molly and Lowell Hattery. I leave behind my truly loving wife of forty-eight years, Debbie Hattery. Her care for me has been heroic. I know it's wrong to be so proud, but I am of our daughter and son, Nora Kashani and David Hattery, mensches both. Nora and her wonderful husband, Dr. Amir Kashani, have given us three grandchildren with admirable qualities: Ryan age 11; Chloe age 9 and Benjamin age 7. David lives in France with his dual citizenship (U.S. and French) bi-lingual amazing children: Eli age 11; Luke age 9; and Emma Rose age 7.

I had hoped to do a little more, but this damn cancer had other ideas. Carry on for me!

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in memory of Tom Hattery to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Checks can be made payable to ACEEE in memory of Tom Hattery and mailed to ACEEE/ 529 14th Street NW, Ste. 600 / Washington, DC 20045; or online donations can be made at ACEEE.Org/donate (indicate donation is in memory of Tom Hattery). All donations will support ACEEE's efforts to implement energy efficiency upgrades and strategies in the building sector.

A memorial service will be held at Black Ankle Vineyards 14463 Black Ankle Road Mt. Airy, MD 21771, Friday October 25th from 3-6pm.

Thomas Hattery