Tom Dufresne, Hollis, New Hampshire, died on April 6 after a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Born on October 24, 1950, in Lowell, Mass, Tom was the beloved son of the late Robert and Claire (Mailloux) Dufresne. He lived his formative years in Tewksbury, Mass, and graduated from Tewksbury High School and UMass Lowell. He was a member of the Kappa Delta Phi Fraternity while at UMass and kept in touch with his fraternity brothers throughout his life. Most of his professional career was spent in beverage sales.
Tom was an avid hunter and fisherman, both warm water and ice fishing. He and his brothers spent a lot of time together, fishing in Lake Michigan, Lake Winnipesaukee, and sometimes even Flint’s Pond in Hollis. His favorite hunting spots were in northern New Hampshire and New Brunswick, Canada.
Tom had two real passions. The first was cycling. He took this sport up initially to ride in the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Center. He rode with his team, Nashua Rides for Hope, the first weekend in August every year. The course was 192 miles over 2 days. There were many good stories about the team and their shenanigans at the Monkey Bar in Provincetown and on the Party Boat ride back into Boston. The irony, of course, is that Tom succumbed to this dreadful disease himself. Over the course of 16 years, Tom raised over $131,000, 100% of which went directly to cancer research.
His second passion was conservation. As a member, and later Chair, of the Hollis Conservation Commission, Tom was responsible for preserving thousands of acres around Hollis from development, a remarkable and enduring legacy.
On August 10, 1974, Tom married Martha Bassett. They spent their early years in Nashua, before settling in Hollis in 1983. They would have celebrated 50 years of marriage this August. In addition to his wife, Martha, Tom will also be greatly missed by his two daughters, Caitlin and Margaret, and his two beloved granddaughters, Lilyth and Evelyn, who knew him as Pepere.
He is also survived by his brothers John (Claudia), Hollis, NH, and Bobby (Vicky), Nashua, NH; sisters Roberta Gasco (Stephen) Meredith, NH, Elaine Dunn (John), Merrimack, NH, and Mary Leen (Kevin), Key West, FL. In addition, Tom leaves behind his brothers-in-law Bob Bassett (Marilyn Ray), Caribou, ME, and Tom Bassett (Carol Spindel), Urbana, IL, as well as his sisters-in-law Mary Bassett (Art Giacomarra), Northborough, MA, and Annie Bienvenue (Rick) Lowell, MA. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins. His youngest sister, Annette, predeceased him.
Friends may call on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 4-7 at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock St., Nashua, NH. There will be a mass in his honor on Friday, April 12, 11 AM, at the Parish of the Resurrection, Broad Street, Nashua. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dana Farber Cancer Center or the Jimmy Fund. Please donate online at www.pmc.org/BD0267 or mail to Bob Dufresne, 17 Settlement Way, Nashua, NH 03063. Condolences/directions at www.farwellfuneralservice.com.
