Thomas Monroe

Thomas R. Monroe, 78, currently of Sackets Harbor, NY and longtime resident of Saranac Lake, NY, died peacefully on Thursday, April 27, 2017, at Samaritan Hospital in Watertown NY surrounded by his family.

Born in Portville NY on March 8, 1939, he was the son of Mr. Richard C. and Theresa Monroe (Warren). Tom grew up in Portville in Southern Cattaraugus County in the foothills of the Alleghany Mountains where he attended Portville High School. His experiences in hunting, fishing, and camping throughout NY were the foundations of his interest in the outdoors and the environment.

Tom graduated from the State Ranger School at Wanakena, in 1961. He began work with the then State Conservation Department in Jamestown, NY. After meeting his future wife and trading a hunting rifle for an engagement ring, Tom had 54 years of wedded bliss to Carolyn A. Monroe (Guichard). He worked throughout the state as a land surveyor and District Ranger before being assigned to Albany as an Associate Forester in 1970. He spent 2 years there in the Department of Environmental Conservation main office of Lands & Forests administrating the state forest program.

In 1972 Tom brought his years of hands on experience to Region 5 as Supervisor of Environmental Analysis. After five years of overseeing the environmental evaluation and permitting activity for developmental projects throughout the eight county region he was appointed Regional Director at Ray Brook in 1977.

In this capacity he assumed responsibility for the management and implementation of the full array of the Department of Environmental Conservation programs throughout the eight county area of Region 5. A major portion of this region encompasses the Adirondack Forest Preserve which the department is charged by law with providing for the care, custody, and control of the preserve. He also had extensive involvement in the department programs for managing area fish and wildlife resources and the program which regulates activities affecting area water and land.

Tom played a key role in preparations for the 1980 Winter Olympics when he served as the Governor's liaison between the DEC and US Olympic Committee overseeing the environmental impact and construction of the biathlon and Nordic skiing venues at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

Tom served New York State for 33 years spending the last 17 years as Regional Director of DEC's Region 5, headquartered in Ray Brook, with offices in Warrensburg and Northville as well. Together with the over 5000 dedicated DEC employees with whom he proudly served, Tom's Region 5 team took on many key projects and issues during his tenure. Widely respected as a fair but firm leader and consensus builder, Tom was a faithful caretaker of the Adirondack Park and instrumental in preserving the Park for future generations.

Tom was also an active community volunteer. He spent many years with the Boy Scouts of America both as a Scout Leader and serving on the Boy Scout Council. He was an active volunteer fireman being a life member of both the Stanfordville and Saranac Lake fire departments. He served as an EMT in the Saranac Lake Rescue Squad and helped fight notable fires and helped many people in his EMT runs. Tom was a member of the Saranac Lake Elks Club 1508 from 1992 until his death.

Tom was an avid outdoorsman for his entire life, and loved fishing, camping, hunting, and boating throughout the Adirondacks. Trips to Cape Cod and other places where bigger fish could be caught were always on Tom’s schedule. He passed his love of the outdoors to his sons and grandchildren, along with his boat, which to this day ferries his family to camp at Bull Rush Bay on Middle Saranac Lake every summer. Whether it was trolling Middle Saranac with his grandsons, a sightseeing adventure with his granddaughters to Little Weller, grouper fishing on the Gulf of Mexico, or braving the waters of Lake Ontario for walleye or trout, family time on his boat was one of Gramps' greatest pleasures.

He took up golf in the mid 80’s, playing with his sons, Dick and Raymond, Raymond’s future father in law Dr. Jack Debbie, and many dear friends. He later spent endless hours on a golf cart at Rustic golf course in Dexter, NY with his grandson RJ, sharing Gramps’ lessons on golf and life.

After his retirement in 1994 he and his wife Carolyn purchased a winter home on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, where they hosted family and friends. Tom and Carolyn spent 20 enjoyable retirement years as snowbirds, wandering up and down the coast in their RV and taking several trips out West. Tom also worked for several more years for the Florida Nature Conservancy, sharing his expertise in assessing and purchasing tracts of land to add to the state's nature preserves.

Tom is survived by his wife Carolyn of Sackets Harbor, NY: one sister Judy Van Druff and her husband Lowell of Waycross GA; one brother James Monroe and his wife Francis of Gray ME; two sons Richard T. Monroe and his wife Robin of Watertown NY, and Raymond F. Monroe and his wife Dr. Patricia Monroe of Saranac Lake NY; six grandchildren: Chelsea, Abby, RJ, TJ, Michael, and Forrest Monroe; and many other beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Calling hours will take place 6 to 8 PM on Thursday, May 4, at the Fortune Keough Funeral home in Saranac Lake, followed by a Fireman’s Service and an Elk’s Service at 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 AM Friday, May 5, at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake with the Rev. Patrick Ratigan officiating. After cremation a burial ceremony will take place at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Saranac Lake at a later date.

Those wishing to remember Tom with a charitable contribution are asked to consider the Ranger School at Wanakena Class of 1961 Ranger School Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at http://fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.

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