Tom was born in Barre, Vermont on November 30, 1931 to Deane C. Davis and Corinne Eastman Davis. He graduated from Spaulding High School in 1949 and earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of Vermont. In 1952 he married his best friend, Delores “Dolly” Pruneau, also of Barre. During their 65 years together they raised nine children.
After a brief stint selling cars and in the insurance industry, Tom spent the rest of his life in public service. While working as a counselor for the Vermont Alcoholic Rehabilitation Board, he was appointed the first director of the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity by Governor Philip Hoff. Under Governor Tom Salmon he served as Secretary of the Agency of Human Services.
He later became the State Director for Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy and Regional Representative for the U. S. Department of Labor under Secretary Robert Reich.
Indifferent to material success, Tom often proclaimed that he was born with a “social justice gene.” He was a strong advocate of supporting the economy through a focus on human resource needs, organized labor, and substance abuse counseling. He was on the boards of numerous Vermont organizations including the Community of Vermont Elders, the American Heart Association, the Old Labor Hall (Barre), the Vermont Labor History Society, and the Vermont Historical Society. He was also a member of the Vermont Democratic Party, the Country Club of Barre, the Mutuo Soccorso (Barre), and other organizations.
Tom authored two novels and three memoirs. His hobbies and passions included classical music, literature, chess, baseball, skiing, rooting for the “mighty New York Giants,” and golf. (Adapted from Tom’s Times Argus obituary by the Davis family)