Thomas Severino

Thomas Martin Severino, age 87, passed away October 4, 2020 in his home surrounded by his family.  Born to Giacomo (Jean) Anthony Severino and Louise (Lois) Angela Battista on August 10, 1933 in Hartford Connecticut.  Tom grew up in Hartford Connecticut with his younger siblings: Rhoda Jeanne Severino and Louis Allen Severino.  Tom had 4 children (spouses listed in parenthesis): Dawn (Glenn), Toni (Bob), Tom Jr. (Angie) and Traci.  He also had 7 grandchildren:  Jennifer, Stephane, Aaron, Erica, Ashley, Sofia and Nicholas as well as 7 great-grandchildren: Kyla, Jayden, Jace, Peyton, Pierson, Nolan and another baby expected in February.

Music has always been an important part of Tom’s life.  He learned how to play the piano and  clarinet while in grade school and then he started playing the upright or double bass at age 14 under the tutelage of his father.  While in high school, he taught himself how to play the tuba and played in the marching band.  His dad, Jean, played in the New Haven and Yale Symphonies and was Associate Principal Bassist of the Hartford Symphony for over 20 years.  Following his dad’s footsteps, Tom was the principal bassist in high school in Hartford’s All-City Orchestra.  He became a professional musician at just 18 years old and played gigs with his father at the historic Hotel Bond.  In 1953, he auditioned to play in the Air Force Band where he would continue this career for the next 22 years.  In 1954, he was stationed at Pepperrell Air Force Base in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.  It is here that he would meet his wife Joan of 65 years.  He was playing at a service club dance and says that he couldn’t keep his eyes off her as she danced on the dance floor.  They married in 1955.  In 1959, Tom became a member of the NORAD Band.  This band consisted of elite members from the Air Force, Army, Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force.  It was with this band that he played on national TV shows such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Dinah Shore Show, The Bell Telephone Hour, and the Steve Allen Show as well as performed at Carnegie Hall and recorded with Capital Records in Hollywood.  Tom  played with accomplished musicians such as Al Green, Bill Prince, Bob Jenkins, Bobby Shew, Phil Wilson, Paul Fontaine and The Platters.  When he retired from the Air Force, he formed his own ensemble and continued to play gigs on a regular basis in the Denver-Metro area.  He loved to play and God gave him the strength to play one last time at his home the day before his passing!

Tom’s other passion was real estate.  He purchased his first rental house in the early 1970’s and continued to invest in more properties.  At one point, he owned 9 properties, all of which he managed and did most of the maintenance.  He always liked to keep busy and would continue this lifestyle well into his 80’s.  He would often say, “There are not enough hours in the day.”

Tom loved life, his family and his work.  There were countless weekends that he worked his day job and then played at night taking a nap between the two jobs.  It was this work ethic that allowed him to provide for his wife and 4 children.  He was hard-working, talented, humble, unassuming, kind and gentle.  With his wife’s passing not even one month before his, his 5 year old great-granddaughter Peyton said it best when she learned of Poppy’s passing:  “He must have really missed Nanny!”  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, Tom requested that donations be made to either:

American Cancer Society  - https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/memorial-giving.html

MusicLink Foundation  - https://www.musiclinkfoundation.org

Please join the Severino family for Tom’s Celebration of Life Reception

Thursday, October 15th from 3:30-5pm
Saddle Rock Grill
21705 E Arapahoe Rd Ste B,
Aurora, CO 80016

Enjoy live music and a family hosted lasagna dinner.
Cash Bar

Please RSVP to Traci at cmxr617@gmail.com with how many people will attend
by Wednesday, October 14th.