Thomas A. Rich

Thomas A. Rich, 95, of Venice, Florida formerly of Skaneateles, New York died November 14, 2011. Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Helen Brew Rich; daughters Susan Sims of Skaneateles, New York and Venice, Florida, Kathryn Shumway of Sunnyvale, California, Barbara Calder of Venice, Florida and Nan Rich of Venice, Florida; son, Thomas J. Rich (Alison) of Sarasota, Florida; nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers, Burton and Ernest and sister, Lura. Born and raised on the family farm in Hobart, New York, Tom exhibited a strong work ethic and competitive nature at a young age. At Cornell University he not only excelled in soccer, basketball and baseball but he met his lifelong sweetheart, Helen whom he married in 1939. Tom Rich was named the first winner of the Cornell Daily Sun Athletic Trophy for maintaining tradition in spirit and deed. After Cornell, in addition to working, Tom played professional basketball finishing with the Rochester Royals in 1946. In 1979, he was named to the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame. Tom began his career at P&C Food Markets, headquartered in Syracuse, New York in 1943. What began as a farmers’ co-operative blossomed into a major regional food chain by the time he retired as President in 1974. Tom and Helen relocated from Syracuse to Skaneateles, New York in 1947 and maintained a summer home there until 2005. In 1959, Tom was presented with an opportunity to invest in a golf course in the Pocono Mountains. The golf business was a perfect fit for Tom combining his agrarian roots, passion for sport, and business acumen. Tom, individually and with partners, would go on to purchase and eventually sell Rolling Green in Sarasota, Forest Lakes Golf Club and Foxfire Golf Club in Baldwinsville, New York. Under a long term lease arrangement, he also managed Foxfire South Golf Club in Sarasota. Four courses, Waterford, Capri Isles, and Calusa Lakes in Venice and Deep Creek Golf Club in Port Charlotte continued under his watchful eye and tutelage until his death. Tom’s genuine inquisitive nature and his abiding enthusiasm for life were matched only by his profound thankfulness for the love and affection from his wife, Helen and his family. Tom Rich lived and laughed and left his family with an abundance of cherished memories.