Thomas Sutliffe, of Southbury, passed away Sunday. He was 73 years old, and is survived by his wife and best friend of 44 years, Judy Sutliffe.

After serving in the United States Air Force, Tom attended the University of North Dakota, where he played Division 1 hockey and earned a B.S. degree.

After graduating from UND, Tom began a career in sales, eventually leading him to Boehringer Ingelheim, where he spent many years in the position of National Sales Director before his retirement in 1993. Retirement brought about new interests, most of them taking Tom outdoors to work in his yard, on a mountain to ski, or on a lake to kayak; his favorite hobby in recent years. He loved watching the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys, but not more than he loved watching his own children and grandchildren play on their own various teams over the years.

Tom is survived by his siblings Gail Hagberg and her husband, Roger, Shannon Donovan and Daniel Donovan, as well as by his sons from his first marriage, Jeff Sutliffe and his wife Sandy, and Jay Sutliffe and his wife Chloe. Through his marriage with Judy, he is survived by his son Dean Sutliffe and his wife Jody, of Frisco, TX, and his daughter Alyson Dembski and her husband Chris, of Southbury, as well as his beloved granddaughters, Sydney, Taylor and Camryn Dembski.

Tom will be remembered by so many as being an amazing businessman and the life of the party; but above all, he was a devoted husband, loving father and adoring grandfather.

Memorials: Please, in lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to the Disabled Veterans of America PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250.

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Funeral: Sacred Heart Church

Services: A mass will follow at noon.

Visitation: Visiting hours will be Thursday, April 4 from 10-12pm at Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main St. South, Southbury