Thomas Bundrick, Sr.

April 27, 1931 – April 8, 2026

Thomas Bundrick, Sr., known to all as Tom, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026, just nineteen days shy of his 95th birthday. A brooklyn boy shaped by The Depression, Tom grew up understanding the value of hard work, a good book, and a dollar well saved. In his younger days he also enjoyed sharing a cold drink with friends. He was the first in his family to attend college, earning that opportunity the hard way — by enlisting in the Marines during the Korean conflict to secure the GI Bill. It was a decision that set the course of a remarkable life.

Tom married the love of his life, Patricia, in 1958, eventually settling in South Salem, New York, where he lived for the next 58 years. Tom went on to build a distinguished career at Reader’s Digest, rising over thirty years from copywriter to Senior Vice President before retiring in 1990. He used to say he spent his first thirty years growing up and starting a family, his second thirty years working, and his last thirty years doing exactly as he pleased — and he meant it. In retirement, Tom read voraciously, watched old movies, kept company with his dog, and was perfectly content to be left gloriously alone. After ninety,

he called it “playing with house money,” and he played that hand with style — driving

himself to the gym well into his nineties and living independently until just last year.

Tom was a man of beautiful contradictions. He could hold a room spellbound one moment

and then disappear contentedly into his fortress of solitude for weeks. A Depression-era

soul to his core, he lived simply and without pretense yet was extraordinarily generous to

his family. He knew exactly who he was, and he never apologized for it.

Tom was predeceased by his parents Frank and Sarah Bundrick, his sister Claire Flaherty,

his brother Frank Bundrick, Jr., and his beloved dog Murphy. He is survived by his wife

of 68 years, Patricia; his son Thomas Bundrick, Jr. and wife Kay; his daughter Laurie

Tyler and husband Keith; his daughter Jeanne Di Minno and husband Frank; his

grandchildren Lydia Bundrick and partner Nate, Daniel Tyler, and Sarah Tyler; his step-

grandchildren Alex and David Di Minno; and his great-granddaughter Willa Borgman,

who represents everything he worked for.

In keeping with Tom’s wishes, there will be no wake or formal services. Instead, the family

invites you to honor him the way he would have wanted: pour yourself a cold drink, pick

up your favorite book or old movie, and spend some time exactly as you please. In lieu of

flowers or gifts, the family welcomes donations to a library or pet rescue of your choice.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to the compassionate staff at Regional Hospice,

whose care made Tom’s final days peaceful and full of love.