Thomas Edwards Bletcher

1940 - 2023

Thomas Edwards Bletcher
November 12, 1940 - February 6, 2023
Thomas Edwards Bletcher
12 November 1940 - 6 February 2023
Tom was born in Cleveland to Thomas E . and Margery Vogleson Bletcher and raised in Euclid, Ohio, a nice place where he received an excellent edication - Western Reserve Academy & DePauw University - gained longlasting friendships and good memories of his early years. Then in 1961 Tom took a job as a radio announcer at Interlochen Music Camp in Northern Michigan. He fell in love with Michigan!
At summer's end, he moved to Ann Arbor and joined the UM Pharmacology staff at the Medical School. Meanwhile he met Edith Keiley at an after church coffee gathering and they dated for a year or so before marrying at St Andrew's Episcopal Chrch on 16 August 1963.
Tom and Edi honeymooned at Crystal Lake, Beulah, MI and returned every year (except 2021) since for vacation. Although Tom very much enjoyed swimming, canoeing, walking in the woods, etc, he got involved in local and regional issues pertaining to protecting our lakes and environment.
At home in Ann Arbor he served as Senior Partner in his small business consulting firm of Harmon Culhane, Petersen, and Bletcher. He was President of the Ann Arbor Jaycees and a State Chairman for the Michigan Jaycees. He served as Deputy Drain Commissioner for Washtenaw County, was a member of the Huron River Watershed Council and taught math & science at Washtenaw Community College. He volunteered for city election services and many other community needs including food gathering for people in need. Tom was creative and designed a wrap-around porch, approach walks & patio for our over 100 year home. He loved music and art attending concerts, museums and art fairs and rarely missed a Saturday afternoon NPR opera. Books, books, books and newspapers, he could never get enough information.
Tom atended Eastern Michigan University, AB '72, AM classes at EMU and UofM. He was Charter President of Economics Club at EMU and Chapter President of IPPS American Society for Public Administretion at University of Michigan and a member of the Michigan Assoc of County Drain Commissioners.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Edith (Keiley) Bletcher, his sister Margery (Bletcher) Colloff, nieces Pamela Colloff, Colette Prellwitz, Colleen Bergmann, Sarah Major,and nephews, Michael Murphy, Thomas Murphy, Michael Keiley & David Colloff. Tom leaves much love for his family and friends.
Services will be held on August 16, 2023 at St Philip's Episcopal Church, Beulah, MI at 1 PM, Father Harold "Skip" Comer, pastor. Gifts to local food banks and environmental services in Tom's memory will be very appreciated.