Thomas John Hess, of Jacksonville, FL, and formally of Raleigh, N.C., died April 13th. He was 75.

Born in Callicoon, N.Y. May 16, 1950, he was the son of Warren William and Alice Emily (Meschner) Hess. He graduated from Jeffersonville Youngsville Central School and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1969. He served 30 years as an active sailor and an additional 10 years in the reserves achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He served in both the Vietnam and Gulf War.

Tom was a certified electrician and worked for Texas Instruments in Burundi in Africa, Australia, and on the Hudson River. He retired from North Carolina State University working in the maintenance department.

Tom had many interests and passions. He was an expert hunter with both rifle and compound bow. He loved fishing, ice sailing and was a pickleball champion. He competed in decoy duck carvings shows and was a blue-ribbon winner. He would then donate the decoys to local organizations. Tom was a member of the Masonic Lodge and USCG lightship sailors.

Tom was predeceased by his parents and two brothers Randy and David. Tom is survived by his sisters Doreen Sangaline (Ed) of Stone Ridge, NY, and Diane M. Hess of Jacksonville, FL., niece Lauren R. Asbury (Anson) of Decatur, GA and nephew Evan W. Sangaline of Brooklyn N.Y., and wife Karen Urlich of Avon Park, FL.

Tom will be buried in Arlington Cemetery Virginia at a future date. Donations may be made to the Methodist Church of Jeffersonville, NY or to Cure PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) Foundation found at PSP.Org.