In memory of Tom R.

Erin Holohan Haskell

A brilliant member of our community has passed away. Tom Riso (we knew him here as @Tom R.) was a member of Heating Help since 2005 and we will miss him and his thoughtful and insightful emails to us throughout the years. We are grateful to have known and learned from him. Our hearts go out to his family.

Here is Tom's obituary:

Thomas Anthony Riso, 82, of Garrattsville passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Thomas was born on April 30, 1942 in Jersey City, NJ; a son of the late Anthony and Anna (Dougherty) Riso. On May 25, 1968, he married the love of his life; Kathryn F. (McDermott) Riso.

Tom proudly served our country in the United States NAVY from 1960-1964, sailing the Mediterranean and participating in the evacuation of dependents from Guantanamo Bay in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following the Navy he had a vast career in power plant operation and building design and construction. A lifelong member of Local 30 Operating Engineers, he was an expert on steam generation and distribution systems and a frequent contributor to heatinghelp.com, including donating scans of his library of legacy technical information. Tom rose from working overnight shifts in power plants to Assistant, and later Chief Engineer, and Director of Buildings and Grounds to Manager and Vice President of Engineering and Construction for the Helmsley – Spear Company in Manhattan. Retiring in 2004, he returned back to work in 2012 and became the Land Use Enforcement Officer for the Town of New Lisbon and volunteered for anything else the Town of New Lisbon asked him to do.

In his free time, Tom was an avid hunter and fisherman. He would spend two weeks every year on the St. Lawrence River filling his limits of small and large mouth bass daily.

Tom is survived by his loving wife, Kathy; sons, Thomas A. Riso, Jr. and Edward T. (Kelly) Riso and grandchildren, Sadia Grace and Sophia Mary Riso.

Rest in peace, Tom.

hot_rod

Wow, an admirable list of accomplishments in a full lifetime. RIP sailor. 🇺🇸

Mad Dog_2

Awww..great Tribute..A Life Well lived...Anchors aweigh sailor...Mad Dog

DanHolohan

He was a great guy.

pecmsg

fair winds and following winds !

HomerJSmith

I'm happy he's gone. I'll give you a minute to pick yourself off the floor. Let me explain. Everyone is happy when a baby is born and sad when a person dies. I have always thought that they have it backwards especially about the dying part. You ( a Soul) comes into existence (born) on this rock with pain, hardship, chaos, war, and every other disagreeable experience from a place of love. How can you be happy about that? I, do, realize you have your purpose in being here, tho. When you die, you go back to that joyous love and you never want to leave, again, until you decide to. Ya, it's your decision. Near Death Experiences that people have, shows this clearly, google it. I do feel sympathy for those left behind who depended upon that person and will miss him dearly. But be comforted, you will meet, again.

RayWohlfarth

Safe travels Tom May the wind fill your sails