Thomas Sanders

Thomas Allan Sanders, 63, of East Haddam, CT, passed away peacefully at his home on October 22, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones. Born on October 7, 1962 in Bristol, CT, he was a son of Maria (Vaivao) Sanders and the late Raymond Sanders, Sr. Thomas lived in Bristol until he enlisted in the Army in 1980, and began his service with basic training at Fort Jackson, SC., then with US Army Airborne School earning his Parachutist Badge. He then completed Ranger School at Fort Stewart, GA and served with distinction throughout his career as demonstrated by numerous decorations and medals he received, finally rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Thomas was stationed for over 3 years at Fort Lewis, WA in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and he proudly instructed at the Huckleberry Creek Mountain Training Camp on Mt. Rainier. He spent his last 4 years in the military stationed in Nuremberg, Germany as a mainframe computer engineer at the 317th Support Maintenance Company.
He went on to work at Anacomp Inc. as an electronic technician, and then as an instructor at CT Computer Training before creating his own business, Paramount Computers, LLC, where he spent many years traveling between states teaching what he knew to students and professionals. In more recent years, Thomas swapped his ties for tinkering and was known as a jack of all trades, channeling his love for craftsmanship and repair into a multitude of projects and jobs.
Thomas approached life with determination, bravery and a craving for entrepreneurship and exploration. He was a person with unlimited strength, discipline and ample charisma. He was a generous friend, a great cook and a skilled musician who believed in a hard day's work, followed with good company by a hot fire. Thomas was one of a kind who was never afraid to go against the grain. His family will remember countless hikes, laughter on train rides to NYC, late night guitar tuning, hand drumming all over the car, looking for the big dipper and the one and only apple pie. Thomas was loved, and he will be missed.
Thomas is survived by his wife Debra Sanders of Tolland, CT; his son Noah Sanders of Tolland, CT; two daughters Melissa Dowling and her husband Matt of Wethersfield, CT, and Autumn Sanders and her fiancé Jack Tattersall of Thomaston, CT; two grandchildren Nora and Cameron Dowling "Hi Tama"; four brothers and three sisters-in-law Joseph and Dorothy Vaivao of Los Angeles, CA, Raymond Jr. and Sue Sanders of Prospect, CT, Leonard and Sue Sanders of Bonney Lake, WA and Alton Jones of Ellington, CT; four sisters and two brothers-in-law Agnes Morrow of Phoenix, AZ, Maria Key of Las Vegas, NV, Elizabeth and Johnny Johnston of Olive Branch, LA, and Trisha and Brett Dickerson of Angier, NC; best friend Angela Cunningham of East Haddam, CT; along with several nieces and nephews and many friends. Thomas would want to extend his gratitude to Christopher Yi and all of the staff at Middlesex Health, who were so thoughtful and invested in his care, Angela, who was there daily for support throughout his battle, and Maria, who spent the last couple of months helping care for him. Respects can be paid at a graveside service with military honors on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 9:00 am at the Connecticut Veteran's Cemetery in Middletown.