Vernon L. Thunem

Vernon L Thunem

Vernon Lee Thunem, age 90, a resident of New Canaan for more than 53 years, died Tuesday April 19, 2016 after a brief illness, with his sons by his side

Born in New York City Jan 2, 1926, he was the son of the late Louis and Victoria Thunem He was predeceased by his loving wife of 54 years, Elizabeth (Libby) Thunem, in 2008

An only child, known as Vern, he attended The Hunter College Model School and Stuyvesant High School He played the violin and was a Boy Scout at the West Side YMCA He loved to recall his boyhood antics including skitching behind city buses on roller skates while toting his book bag and violin

He earned a BA in Fine Arts from Columbia University and an MBA from New York University

He met the love of his life, Libby Pickles, at an engagement party in New York City for Howard and Suzanna Gray Eventually, both couples settled in New Canaan and at St Mark's Church  Vern and Libby were married on June 5, 1954 at St Martin's Episcopal Church in Providence Rhode Island

Vern enjoyed a 36-year career in the human resources field, most of that with Caltex and then Texaco, before retiring in 1987 As a specialist in expatriate benefits administration, he was assigned to numerous international placements over the span of his professional life; these included Beirut, Istanbul, Indonesia, Bahrain, Brussels, and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia After retiring, Vern served as a volunteer with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC), a US State Department sponsored organization that places retired executives in temporary foreign assignments to improve local communities and economies

Vern was a proud member of the Seventh Regiment in New York and he spent many memorable occasions at the Armory on Park Avenue at 66th Street He began in the State Guard at age 17, and rose through the ranks to second lieutenant As an officer of the Honor Guard there, he paraded at West Point and Washington, DC for reviews commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Seventh Regiment, and he met the Queen of England when she visited the regiment to review the troops He also served his country in the US Army during World War II, with active duty in the European theater of operations in Patton's Third Army, 1944-1946

For 53 years, Vern was a faithful member of St Mark's Episcopal Church in New Canaan, serving as senior warden, vestry member, minister of communion, lector and May Fair volunteer His most notable role in the community was as the founding scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 70 at St Mark's Church From the troop's beginnings in 1969, Vern served as the scoutmaster for twenty years and, with the exception of his times overseas, served continuously in that capacity He was proud to see more than 100 boys in the troop earn Scouting's highest award, Eagle Scout, including all three of his sons Two of his grandsons also participated as active scouts in the troop Many of Vern's former scouts point to his leadership and example in life as the foundation for the men they have become, and for many he was a true father figure

Vern is survived by his three sons, Carl (Debbie) of Flower Mound, Texas; Eric (Cynnie) of New Canaan; and Mark (Lauren) of Huntington, Conn Four grandchildren, Matthew (Meghan) and Megan of Flower Mound, Texas; Edward "Ned" and Peter of New Canaan; and one great-grandchild, Lincoln, of Flower Mound, Texas also survive

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday April 29, at 11 am at St Mark's Episcopal Church, in New Canaan, with a reception to follow in Morrill Hall

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either BSA Troop 70 c/o St Mark's Church or to St Mark's Church

For online condolences and directions visit wwwhoytfuneralhomecom

- The Family