Peter L. "Pete" Thomson

CUMMINGTON - Peter "Pete" L. Thomson, 63, passed away March 2, 2015, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. He was predeceased by his parents, Marguerite Kollar and Lt. Col. Edwin Thomson.

Pete graduated from Gateway Regional High School in 1969, and later attended New York University and Springfield Technical Community College.

His love of airplanes took him to Sanford, Maine, where he obtained his Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant license. Shortly after he earned his FAA private pilot's license. Pete truly enjoyed flying his 1946 Taylorcraft airplane and hanging out at the local airports to fulfill his passion for flying. Destination was not the purpose.

Pete worked for Conrail Railroad and Kollmorgen for many years. Being multi-talented, he also held a variety of mechanical positions.

Pete identified himself as being from western Massachusetts, having lived in Cummington, Ashfield, Worthington, Montgomery and Chesterfield. Throughout his life, Pete looked for the positive in other people. In Cummington, he was active with the Council on Aging. He had dedicated himself to helping local seniors. Whether it was shoveling snow, providing transportation or adopting a fire hydrant on Main Street, he was present.

A truly unique, loving and caring man, he leaves his partner, companion and loving other half of 11 years, Carolyn (Sefcyk) Urekew. He also leaves his sister Paula Thomson of New York City, and his half brothers William Thomson (Elise) of Simsbury, Connecticut, and Petee Thomson (Julie) of Westfield, and three nephews.

A celebration of Pete's life will be held Saturday, May 30, at 2 p.m. at the Cummington Community House, 33 Main St. Please come and share music and good memories of someone who truly cared about all the lives he touched.

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