Thomas Foisy Ebol, 84, of Summerfield, Florida, passed away on April 2, 2025, at the VA Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, after a short illness.
Born July 5, 1940, to Foisy and Laura (Santos) Ebol, Tom was one of several siblings. His family homestead was in Goffes Falls, where, as a young teen, Tom worked at The Elms Hotel as a dishwasher. While at the resort, Tom learned to ski, play ping-pong and tennis, and often hosted the guests as an opponent, and the one to beat.
After attending Bishop Bradley High School in Manchester, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving honorably for nine years, including five in Germany. While overseas, Tom represented his unit as a member of the U.S. Army Tennis Team, traveling to matches via helicopter. During his military tenure, Tom began his lifetime love of sports officiating as a football official.
Following his discharge at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, Tom returned to his hometown, became a buyer for Treisman’s on Hanover Street in Manchester. Tom was “the man to see” if you needed advice on electronics, luggage, cameras, sporting goods, and especially tennis equipment. He also gave tennis lessons at Indian Ridge Racquet Club in Goffstown, now the Allard Center. When Treisman’s closed its doors in 1988, Tom ventured out with his own small businesses: Silk Screen Impressions, T.J. Sports and Trophies, and ultimately “Tony’s Grinders”, a popular sub and pizza shop in East Manchester. He and his wife sold Tony’s after 10 years, but Tom continued his passion in the food industry, cooking breakfast for the Courtyard by Mariott and Springhill Suites, before retiring to Florida in 2020 to a Del Webb community. Being in an active retirement community found Tom and his wife playing in tennis leagues again, and learning pickleball. When not on the courts, Tom enjoyed his childhood sport of table tennis, and resumed playing double pinochle in a couple leagues.
Throughout his working career, Tom pursued officiating high school sports, being certified in football, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. He also umpired both baseball and softball at the college level. Having attended the Brinkman-Froemming Umpire School in Florida, Tom was invited to umpire the Jr. Pan Am Games in Chicago, Illinois, in 1993, and the Pan Am Games in St. Louis, Missouri, two years later. In 2000, he was privileged once again, umpiring at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Tom had an innate knack for assessing situations, being fair, and resolving disputes in a peaceful manner, which attributed to his expert skills as a sports official. In 2011, Tom received the John R. Clark Officials Award, sponsored by the Union Leader, for softball and volleyball. He was a respected member of the NH Baseball Association (NHBUA), and the NH Softball Association (NHSUA), and instrumental in soliciting, training and evaluating apprentices for the Greater Manchester Baseball Umpire Association (GMBUA).
Tom was a unique individual, and anyone who met him even casually, would know he was special. He was easygoing, always wanting to help others, selfless, fun-loving, honest and kind. With these attributes, Tom portrayed a wonderful Santa for friends and family during the Christmas season. Tom loved life, loved all people – no exceptions!
Besides his wife, Sharon, Tom is survived by siblings, Colleen Swan and husband, Dr. Channing Swan; Sen. Patrick Long and his wife, Karen; and Donna Long, all of Manchester. Also Rev. Patricia Long, Atty. Michael Long and his wife, Cora, of Nahant, Mass.; daughters, Karin Moseley and Laura Pogue of Woodland Park, Colorado, and son, Thomas Jeffery Ebol, of Hollis, N.H., plus several nieces, nephews and “grands”. He was predeceased by siblings, Kathleen Long, Linda Long, Dolores Ebol, Judith Hodgman, and Mildred Rennie. Four weeks after Tom passed, his older sister, Marie Raiche, of Manchester, N.H., and Cocoa Beach, Florida, passed away.
A memorial service will be held at the NH State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boscawen, N.H., on July 2, 2025, at 11 a.m., where interment will take place. Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the NH Veterans Home, 139 Winter St., Tilton, NH 03276.