Thomas J Pressly II

Thomas J. Pressly II RUTLAND - Thomas James Pressly II, age 77, a resident of Rutland since 1970, died at peace at home on September 30, 2023 after a short illness, surrounded by his family. He was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on November 4, 1945, the son of Professor Thomas J. Pressly and Lillian (Cameron) Pressly. He graduated from The Johns Hopkins University (AB 1967) and the University of Washington School of Law (JD 1970). He served as an officer in the US Army Quartermaster Corp from 1971 – 1973, acting as trial counsel in numerous Special and General Courts Martials. He was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1974, and was a member of the Vermont Bar and Rutland County Bar Associations. He argued cases at all levels within the Vermont Court system, including appeals to the Vermont Supreme Court, as well as cases in the Federal District Court of Vermont. He was appointed and commended for his service as an Acting Judge of the District Court in Rutland. During his professional career, he was partner in the law firm of Carbine, Pressly and Seager, and later in the firm of Pressly and Jiloty. He served as President of the Rutland County Bar Association 2015/2016. Throughout his life, he liked to climb and hike, working as a Forest Ranger in Washington State, and serving as a Director of the Green Mountain Club in Vermont. He enjoyed downhill skiing, as well as winter hiking and climbing, making two ascents of Mt. Rainier (1969 and 1988). He was a member/instructor of the US Power Squadron, teaching boater safety and navigation. He was Captain/owner of numerous sailboats, and was a founder and former Commodore of Uncle Charlie's Yacht Club, winning that Club's annual races on Lake Champlain, occasionally. He sailed across the Atlantic in 1981, and again in 2009, and served either as Captain or First Mate on more than twenty passages along the east and west coasts of North America, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. He enjoyed his life, his family, and good friends, and the colleagues he encountered in his profession, as well as the people he met in various travels and pursuits. In particular, he was fond of good books, broad reaches under spinnakers, carved turns on skis, mountain top views, and stories well told. He is survived by his good friend Katrina Carris, two wonderful step children, Kenneth S. Truhan and Lindsay B. Smith, and his long suffering younger sister, Stephanie Cameron Suzuki of Passadena, California, her husband Kaorukio, and their children, Misasha Suzuki Graham and her husband T.J., and Dr. Kentaro Suzuki and his wife Golnaz. It is his wish that there be no funeral service or celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Thomas and Cameron Pressly Endowment for Faculty Development in History at the University of Washington, Box 353560 Seattle, Washington 98195-3560. Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home in Rutland., age 77, a resident of Rutland since 1970, died at peace at home on September 30, 2023 after a short illness, surrounded by his family. He was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on November 4, 1945, the son of Professor Thomas J. Pressly and Lillian (Cameron) Pressly. He graduated from The Johns Hopkins University (AB 1967) and the University of Washington School of Law (JD 1970). He served as an officer in the US Army Quartermaster Corp from 1971 – 1973, acting as trial counsel in numerous Special and General Courts Martials. He was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1974, and was a member of the Vermont Bar and Rutland County Bar Associations. He argued cases at all levels within the Vermont Court system, including appeals to the Vermont Supreme Court, as well as cases in the Federal District Court of Vermont. He was appointed and commended for his service as an Acting Judge of the District Court in Rutland. During his professional career, he was partner in the law firm of Carbine, Pressly and Seager, and later in the firm of Pressly and Jiloty. He served as President of the Rutland County Bar Association 2015/2016. Throughout his life, he liked to climb and hike, working as a Forest Ranger in Washington State, and serving as a Director of the Green Mountain Club in Vermont. He enjoyed downhill skiing, as well as winter hiking and climbing, making two ascents of Mt. Rainier (1969 and 1988). He was a member/instructor of the US Power Squadron, teaching boater safety and navigation. He was Captain/owner of numerous sailboats, and was a founder and former Commodore of Uncle Charlie's Yacht Club, winning that Club's annual races on Lake Champlain, occasionally. He sailed across the Atlantic in 1981, and again in 2009, and served either as Captain or First Mate on more than twenty passages along the east and west coasts of North America, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. He enjoyed his life, his family, and good friends, and the colleagues he encountered in his profession, as well as the people he met in various travels and pursuits. In particular, he was fond of good books, broad reaches under spinnakers, carved turns on skis, mountain top views, and stories well told. He is survived by his good friend Katrina Carris, two wonderful step children, Kenneth S. Truhan and Lindsay B. Smith, and his long suffering younger sister, Stephanie Cameron Suzuki of Passadena, California, her husband Kaorukio, and their children, Misasha Suzuki Graham and her husband T.J., and Dr. Kentaro Suzuki and his wife Golnaz. It is his wish that there be no funeral service or celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Thomas and Cameron Pressly Endowment for Faculty Development in History at the University of Washington, Box 353560 Seattle, Washington 98195-3560. Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home in Rutland.