Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ciesielski

Thomas "Tom" Joseph Ciesielski, 78, a resident of Portland, Oregon, wintering in Sun City, AZ., died on March 26, 2025 at his home in Sun City.
Tom was born on January 19, 1947 in New Britain, CT. He was the only child born to Theodore and Mary (Stasiulewicz) Ciesielski. He was raised in New Britain and attended Pulaski High School, graduating with the Class of 1965. Tom then attended Central Connecticut State University and attained a Bachelor's Degree in History in 1968. He later attended Florida State University and received a Master's Degree in Special Education.
He met his future wife, Susan "Sue" Coffey, while she volunteered for Volunteers of America. They soon began dating and married on July 17, 1982 in Portland, OR. They made their home in Portland. Tom and Sue's homes were never without cats.
Tom started as a Rehabilitation Teacher for the Commission for the Blind in 1974. He then became Executive Director for several nonprofit organizations serving people with visual and other disabilities. He was an Adjunct Professor at Boston College for several years, teaching Masters' level students to become Rehabilitation Teachers. Tom's life showed that his own visual disabilities did not limit his accomplishments; he was a mentor and role model to clients and students.
He was a member of the Hollywood Lions Club in Portland, Oregon, and the Sun City Host Lions Club in Sun City, Arizona. He was a longtime volunteer for the former Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, now known as the Hull Foundation and Learning Center, in Sandy, Oregon. He enjoyed gardening, reading and cooking. Sue and Tom also enjoyed traveling together and had visited Alaska, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland, as well as numerous river cruises throughout the US. He entertained many people with his sparkling wit, incredible memory, and ever-present sense of humor.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his loving wife, Susan, three cousins: James Ciesielski, Janet Fiser and Paul Ciesielski, and many friends.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Hull Foundation and Learning Center in Sandy, Oregon.Click here