Meriden, NH – With great sadness, Tom Schlenker’s family announces his passing on July 15, 2026. After an eight-month battle with lung cancer, Tom died at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center due to complications from his illness. Despite his disease, he never lost his optimism, his love of the outdoors, or the joy he found in spending time with family.
Tom was born in Baldwin, New York, in 1949 to Norman and Sylvia Schlenker and grew up in Orchard Park, New York alongside his older brothers, George and Paul. A gifted athlete, he excelled in high-school football, basketball, and track and field. A Scholastic All-American in football, he was recruited by Ivy League and other Division I programs before choosing Dartmouth College.
At Dartmouth, Tom majored in economics and played tight end on the 1969 Ivy League Championship football team, forming friendships that lasted throughout his life.
After college, Tom became a skilled carpenter and later co-founded Schlenker & Bronner Contracting, building a respected and successful business. In 1977, he married Constance Filbin. Together, with Connie’s sister, Christine Hoffman, they opened Carpenter Street Restaurant in Norwich, where Tom’s craftsmanship-including the bar and signature booths-remains part of the building today.
Tom loved kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and skiing, and found great joy in sharing those passions with his children. During his children’s college years, he faithfully attended Lela’s rowing competitions and Sky’s football games and opera performances whenever he could, traveling long distances to cheer them on. In recent years, Tom spent time beautifully restoring his Meriden, NH home and tending to his impressive gardens. In his retirement, he enjoyed making friends and learning more about plants while working part-time for Gardener’s Supply in Lebanon, NH.
Tom will be remembered as hardworking, generous, thoughtful, intellectually curious, and deeply devoted to his family.
In his college application, he was asked to write his life goal in 30 words. He repeated the words “To be” 15 times. And Tom did just that.
He is survived by his adult children, Lela and Skyler Schlenker, his brothers, George and Paul Schlenker, and his former wife, Connie Filbin. A celebration of life will be held at 11am on Saturday July 25th at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Norwich, Vermont.
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