Thomas Jeffrey Spears, 66, of Northford passed away peacefully into the loving embrace of the Lord, on January 14, 2018 at Connecticut (Branford) Hospice. He was the loving and devoted husband of Ruth Spears for 42 years. Son of the late Joseph and Dorothy Spears, Tom grew up in Milford and Orange. He graduated from Admiral Farragut Honor Naval Academy in St. Petersburg, FL then earned his BS in business management and his MBA from the University of New Haven. Tom worked at the U.S. Headquarters of Saab/Scania as a National Warranty Specialist and during that time, he traveled around the U.S teaching warranty seminars and investigating and resolving warranty policies, procedures and ports of entry regarding warranty policy compliances. He developed materials and conducted training seminars for field staff and dealers throughout the U.S. When he returned home he’d always surprise Ruth with special gifts from where he had been, some of which included handmade miniature totem poles from the Pacific Northwest, Hopi Kachina dolls from Arizona and Navajo pottery. When Saab moved its headquarters to Georgia, Tom took a position with Standard Motor Products (Echlin Inc., Dana Corp.) in Branford where he was an Electronic Catalog Coordinator and Researcher. He served as a liaison to the company’s largest customers regarding electronic data issues. Tom developed and administered the system for tracking, investigating customer and internally reported data discrepancies, final resolutions and follow up. His system reduced expenses and increased company sales dramatically. He was a thorough problem solver who built high performance teams and streamlined processes. After retiring from the business world, Tom took a permanent substitute teacher job at Guilford High School and loved working with the administration, staff and students for a number of years. Throughout his life he had a fascination with model and cogwheel trains. In his opinion, there was nothing better than the cogwheel train chugging and puffing its way through the clouds to Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany. Anywhere Tom and Ruth traveled, one could be sure Tom would find a train for an exciting ride. He and Ruth enjoyed trips to Germany, Austria and Switzerland and loved cruises to Bermuda and other islands. Tom was member of the University Glee Club of New Haven, Hermann’s Sohns CT State Grand Lodge, and was a Master Mason of Hiram Lodge #1 of New Haven. Ruth and Tom were also members of the Harugari German American Club. Many, many thanks to kind, caring and supportive family members, friends, neighbors, GHS staff, University Glee Club, Masons and Hermann Sohn’s members who have supported Tom and Ruth during the difficult year, Tom was ill. Tom is survived by his wife, Ruth, his sister Heather Davidson (Bernard) of Augusta, GA, his sister-in-law Beth Bifano (Marc) of Washington Crossing, PA, beloved niece Sarah Thomas (Cathy Armando) of Irving, TX, special nephew Al Johnson (Cindy) and his devoted, loving little dachshund, Freddie. Predeceased by his Johnson brothers, Ernest, Robert, James, John and sister, Joan Rowatt, Other Johnson siblings include Katherine Bischoff, Ronald Fiorillo, and Albert Johnson.

The visiting hours will be Friday from 4 to 7 pm in the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Connecticut Branford Hospice at 100 Double Beach Road, Branford CT 06405.