Thomas Howard Shade

A Celebration of Life for Tom Shade will be held on May 28 from noon to 3:00 at the Elks Club Lodge 684, address 289 Willowdale Drive, Frederick, MD 21702. Luncheon will be provided. Please come to share happy memories of Tom.

Thomas Howard Shade was reunited with the Lord on April 5, 2022. Born in Frederick, MD, he was the son of John “Blackie” Shade and Nanny Elizabeth Despeaux Shade. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother John “Mickey” Shade. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years Delores, his two sons Thomas II (Stephanie), John (Aysema) and four grandchildren, Aarden, Kai and twins Austin and Ayla. Tom was the beloved Pap-Pap to his grandchildren.
For many years Tom served in the National Guard.

Tom’s life was greatly influenced by his relationship with Father Jordan and Saint John’s Catholic Church. He served as an acolyte and studied at St. John’s School for many years. He graduated from Frederick High School in 1956 and in 2016 that school gave him The Distinguished Alumni Award. After attending Frederick Community College he moved on and graduated from The University of Maryland in 1968, and later earned his Master’s Degree from Western Maryland College. Years later, a professor at Western Maryland College used a book Tom wrote, “Can Tommy Come Out and Play? My Adventures in Education” as a resource text in a graduate course he was teaching at that school.

Tom began his education career at Parkway Elementary School in 1968. In 1971, as a new school principal, he opened Green Valley Elementary School, where an outstanding staff made this first county open-space school a success. It was often visited by other school districts in and out of Frederick County. In 1978 Tom became the first recipient from Frederick County to receive the Lifetime Recipient Award given by the National Congress of PTAs. Later he opened New Market Middle School. Finally, in 1982 he transferred to New Market Elementary School, where he remained until summer of 1997, when he retired. In 1989 Tom received TV Channel 13 Salute of Maryland’s Most Beautiful People. In 1994 he was named Administrator of the year by the Frederick County Association of Secretaries and Assistants. In 1995 the Washington Post selected him for The Washington Post Distinquished Educational Leadership Award. In 1996 he was named the State PTA Educator of the Year. In 1997 Tom was asked to speak to Trent Lott, Senate Majority Leader about continued funding of The Individuals With Disabilities Act. After this successful venture, a committee was sent to NMES to observe, resulting in Tom and the school receiving a letter of commendation from Congress. Tom had previously been the keynote speaker at Inclusion Conferences in Canada and California. Finally, a special honor came from former NMES students. At the request of the senior class, in 1997, Tom was invited by Mike Trout, principal of Linganore High School to be present at graduation so grads could honor him.

When Tom was young he wrote many interesting poems, at least three of which have been published. After retirement from the school system he wrote weekly columns for the Frederick News Post and a 10 page article entitled “Childhood Memories” for the September 2000 issue of The Frederick Magazine.

Tom’s love for sports was reflected in adult life by his being a referee in Varsity Basketball, an umpire in little league baseball and by his organizing ballgames for neighborhood children in his back yard. His love of golf caused him to become a social member of The VFW Country Club. He won many local golf awards and teamed up with other members to win tournaments at other clubs. At least once he scored a hole-in-one. In Las Vegas he won a closest-to-the-hole contest sponsored by Tiger Woods and Tiger handed him a club he had been using for demonstration.

As a member of The Terrapin Club Tom traveled with Delores to many preseason basketball tournaments in which the Terps played. Among those tournaments were those held in Hawaii, New York City, San Juan,Puerto Rico and Cancun, Mexico.

Tom loved his students and spent much time and creativity (aided by a great staff) to encourage the students’ enjoyment of learning. If they as a school reached reading goals he would reward the students by such activities as spending a day on the roof or in a rowboat on the pond or having a tractor race with his vice-principal. Students were allowed time to view these activities. At Halloween he would don a costume and lead a parade. At 5th Grade Dances he would dance with girls and take part in group dances. Parents were not forgotten, as those who volunteered at the school were celebrated by Tom and the staff with a spaghetti dinner prepared by the staff, followed by a stage show emceed by Tom with staff performances. In those shows Tom would take part in acts the creative staff decided on, such as singing with Miss Piggy, playing the trumpet as Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy, being Elvis or other acts which never revealed Tom’s lack of musical ability because the sound would be faked.

During the past ten years of his life Tom suffered Lewey Body Dementia. It finally resulted in June of 2018 in his entry at Somerford Place to ensure his safety. The family wishes to thank Somerford Place for outstanding care of our loved one. In lieu of flowers memorial donations are encouraged to Lewey Body Dementia Association or a charity of your choice.