Thomas Millard Lemons

Peabody, MA - Thomas M. Lemons, 90, of Brooksby Village Peabody, formerly of Marblehead, MA, died peacefully on Nov. 25. Beloved husband for over 65 years of Priscilla M. Lemons of Peabody, he also leaves his daughter Elizabeth Lemons and her spouse Michael Snow of Reading, MA and daughter Katharine Lemons and her spouse Van Morrill of Woburn, MA. He was the proud Grandad of Abigail Lemons and Nathaniel Lemons, and the son of the late Kenneth and Katharine Lemons of Indianapolis, and brother of the late Kenneth E. Lemons Jr. and Barbara Medlicott.
Tom grew up in Indianapolis, IN, where he developed an interest for lighting design through involvement in community theater. This led to his forming a business with his friend Leon Shiman called Audio-Lite when they were still attending Shortridge High School. This passion eventually took him to Kennebunkport, ME to work with the Arundel Opera Company during his summers while he was a student at Purdue University. He earned a degree in electrical engineering, which enabled him to return to the East Coast when he was offered a job at Sylvania in Salem and Danvers that he held for 13 years as an Applications and Development Engineer. In 1970, he left Sylvania to open TLA-Lighting Consultants, Inc., and in 1979 he and his partner Richard Chamberlain expanded the business by opening ARC Sales, Inc. Tom continued his work as a lighting consultant, fixture designer and manufacturer, and expert witness in legal matters related to lighting for over 45 years, collaborating with a range of different designers and developing numerous patents. He also taught lighting design at both Chamberlain Junior College in Boston, MA and The New School in New York City. Tom eventually focused in his final working years on projects he undertook with his former TLA intern, employee, eventual business partner, and fellow lighting designer, Steven Rosen. Throughout this time, he was known in the wider lighting design world, particularly for his sports lighting expertise, and held leadership positions in organizations such as the Illuminating Engineering Society, and the International Commission on Illumination.
Tom's work life filled his days, but he also found time to be involved in community endeavors. He was a founding board member of the Marblehead Festival of the Arts, and later he worked with the Essex County Community Organization (ECCO), an interfaith project that partners with the North Shore Labor Council to support various groups around Essex County. His longest-lasting commitment was to his church, Grace Episcopal Church in Salem, MA, where he married Priscilla and participated in many ways, including as a member of the Vestry and serving as Warden.
Tom was also a dedicated family man who loved spending time with his children and especially his grandchildren. He attended every game, recital, performance and special occasion he possibly could for Abigail and Nathaniel, and he was always proud of all of their accomplishments. He was a caring uncle for his nieces and nephews - Vicki, Kent, Marni, the late Bonita-Kay, and Bart in Indiana and Dana, Charles, and Becky in Massachusetts - and he loved nothing more than to hold the babies that arrived as these various relatives expanded the family.
His long marriage to Priscilla was the foundation on which all else in Tom's life was built. They lived most of their married life in an antique home in Marblehead that they renovated extensively and that enabled them to host many years of family gatherings. They shared their faith and their love of family, and as their children moved out, they enjoyed traveling the world, including trips to China, Australia, and all over Europe.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, December 2 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Church in Salem, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Church in Salem, the IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers) Education Trust Thomas M. Lemons Scholarship, or a charity of choice.
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