Thomas C. Koehler ’61

 Tom died of leukemia March 15, 2023, in San Diego. 

Born in Morristown, N.J., he came to us from Deerfield Academy. He was with us for only two years, moving on to join the Navy and earn his Naval Aviator wings in 1961, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He served in the Navy until retirement in 1980, as a commander. His aviation career included two combat tours in Southeast Asia, logging more than 200 combat missions over Vietnam. Overall, he flew more than 5,400 hours and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as other decorations. Along the way he earned a B.A. in international relations at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

After retirement he worked with the Singer Corp. as an aviation project manager for several years. Then, for the next 32 years, worked with his wife, Nancy, in her business, Home Medical Claims, assisting the elderly with all facets of their lives. He also was a docent on the USS Midway. 

Tom is survived by his son Steve, daughter Katie Bianchi, and four grandchildren. Nancy, his wife of 61 years, died a month after Tom.