Thomas E. Woodruff

Thomas Ellis Woodruff died peacefully on March 11, 2015, at his daughter’s home in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania in his 95th year. A long-time resident of Nashua, New Hampshire, Thomas was born in Stockton, California on February 8, 1921, the son of Gracella Scottford Woodruff and Ennis Casselberry Woodruff. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1943. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of California.

In his early career, he worked for General Electric Co. (1944-1947) and Hughes Aircraft Co. (1947-1956), before moving to Nashua in 1956, where he worked for thirty-two years at Sanders Associates, Inc. Thomas retired from Sanders in 1988 as Vice President, Science and Technology. He held a variety of other roles at Sanders, including Vice President of the Ocean Systems group. He also served on Sanders’ Board of Directors.

Thomas held fourteen patents. He served as a consultant for several years following his retirement. A major source of pride was the jobs he and the Sanders leadership team generated for the people of Nashua.

He is sadly missed by his children, Molly Mahaffy (John), Pat Woodruff (Don Hopings), Gordon Vickers (Nancy Gannett), Ann Vickers (Ray Drennan), and Mary Jean Vickers (Jerry Marshall), the late Robert Woodruff, and also many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased in 2005 by his wife, Bette Vickers Woodruff (nee Craik).

Thomas was a lover of life and adventure. He traveled extensively, enjoyed fine wines, summers in the mountains of California and later at Rocky Pond in Hollis, NH, photography, motorcycling, skiing, good food, and good parties.

A memorial celebration of his life will take place at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, 58 Lowell Street, Nashua, on Thursday, March 26th at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harbor Homes, ATTN: Development Department, 45 High Street, Nashua, NH 03060 (www.harborhomes.org) or National Alliance on Mental Illness – New Hampshire, 85 North State St., Concord, NH 03301 (www.naminh.org).

An on line guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.