Lt Col Thomas Maxwell, USAF (Ret) of Bedford, MA, died at home on Sunday, July 11, at the age of 73.

Tom is survived by his wife of forty years, Patricia Livingston Maxwell; his children, Thomas R. Maxwell (Kathy) of Florida and Meredith Szeles (Tom) of Ohio; and four grandchildren, Thomas Maxwell, Maggie Maxwell, Logan Szeles and Lizzy Szeles; a sister Jan Kershner (Jon) of Colorado; five nephews and two nieces.  Tom was predeceased by his parents Thomas W. and Frances (Burkhart) Maxwell.

Tom proudly served in the United States Air Force rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He was stationed in Turkey, Arkansas, California, and Maryland, as well as at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA.  His military honors included the prestigious Defense Superior Service Medal, a military decoration of the US Department of Defense usually awarded to general and flag officers.  Following his retirement from the Air Force he worked in private industry. Tom fully retired January 2020 from Jacobs Technology Inc., where he was Operations Director.

Born and raised in Hatboro, PA, Tom was a graduate of Kutztown University (B.S.) and Webster University (M.A.).

Tom is remembered for his thoughtful care of everyone who had the privilege to know him.  He was held in high respect for his integrity and dedication, and valued for his sage advice.  He was an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Bedford, MA, where he gave his time and energy in many capacities.  Always eager to help, he did what was needed to ease your burden from washing your car to organizing your linen closet.  He was adept at entertaining himself and others in any situation; his particular interests and hobbies were varied.  Tom was a member of the Washington Ringing Society at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.  He had a great interest in trains and built The Please and Thank You Railroad for his friends and family to 'ride' when they visited.  He enjoyed birdwatching and was a volunteer at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, Massachusetts.  Tom was an avid reader, enjoying classic mysteries and nonfiction, and had an expansive knowledge of history.  Planning trips and traveling with his wife Pat gave him joy, and he took advantage of every opportunity to learn or see something new along the way.  As often as possible he combined his interests, visiting many of the presidential libraries in the US, and bird sanctuaries and historical landmarks in several countries.  While he liked to make his own pizzas and brew his own beer, he could always be counted on to name a special pub, ice cream shop, museum or inn wherever one might be headed.  He was beloved by many who counted him among their family.

Visitation hours will be held on Sunday, July 18, from 4-7pm  at Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Road, Bedford, MA 01730.  A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 19, at 9:00 AM, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 100 Pine Hill Road, Bedford, MA 10730.  Live Stream of Funeral Service  Interment with military honors will be at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts.

If you wish to honor Tom's memory through a financial donation, the family requests contributions be made to Special Operations Warrior Foundation, PO Box 89367, Tampa, FL 33689,  www.specialops.org  and Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, 100 Pine Hill Road, Bedford, MA 01730,  www.stpaulsbedford.org/donate  .