Thomas Lewis Minichiello, Jr.

Tom was one of my dearest friends at UNH. We had a common love of music. He was a DJ at WUNH and had a Top 40 Radio Station. We were also members of the Kate Smith Fan Club and he interviewed her for a full half hour as a special tribute on her birthday, May 1st. We visited him at his home in the old section of Portsmouth several times and he had a close-knit Italian family. He attended our wedding and on that very day his mother died. We kept in touch until ois early death. He loved teaching as I did. He was truly one of a kind. I am sure he is listening to old Brenda Lee records up above. Til we meet again, love, Brian P. Wiggin

Mr. Minichiello was my U.S. History teacher during my junior year, 1981. Our friendship started then and continued all the way until his passing. I still call him Mr. Minichiello after all these years, even though sometimes I did call him Tom. When he died, I cried for days. I felt the loss profoundly. He was a kind, sensitive, loving person, who looked after his students and gave himself fully to the people in his life. We started a history club that year, because his class was so fascinating, we didn't want it to end. The connection and the intellectual camarderie was that strong. We met once a year, even after high school ended, and we discussed everything from music to travel to favorite movies and books.

 

I will always miss the great conversations with Tom, the friendship, and the beauty of having a teacher who became my friend. I think of him often.

 Greetings Tom,

 

We miss laughing with you - Krispy Kreme, having you in the audience at our plays, sharing stories, jokes and chatting on the phone.

 

Thank you for your friendship and most importantly for blessing our cuzin; Jim as a long time partner, friend, lover.

 

God Speed!

Sherri * Sabrina

I cannot believe Tom is gone. What a dark space his leaving made in my life. We had been friends since 1967 at UNH. How many evenings we would spend on the phone speaking of baseball, family, friends, music, history, current events, work and arguing about politics. I remember visits in Portsmouth and meeting his father there and Uncle Lou in Durham and later visiting his home in Nashua. Or he would visit me in my home in Greenland where we would dine on Lean Cuisines and iced tea and talk even more. One day we walked along the railroad track with my two small children all the way to the old Stratham depot. Another day we drove to Wallis Sands Beach and talked of beauty and spiritual things. Tom was a treasure who never said a mean thing about anyone and helped me through several tough times. He had his demons and battled depression but never brought others down. He tried so hard. I am so happy that in the last few years of his life he found the love of a good person and obviously that special person loved him back. He will forever be in my heart, and I hope he has found peace. We will meet again, my friend.

Remember 1977? That is how far back Tom and I go. I was just a junior high student and  Tom was the teacher.  I then saw him a few years later in High School. I ended up in having Tom as US History teacher. We shared a common birthday, a common college (UNH), and a common thrill of travel and learning. Whether I was in Wisconsin, India, or Costa Rica, Tom's humor and unique handwritting was a constant. Yes for thirty solid years Tom was there. When I finally got a house, Tom came and blessed it with his presence--despite great pain. It was our last birthday together and our last face-to-face meeting. When Tom left us, he took much hope and beauty with him.  The world needs more Toms in this cold and dark world.