Howard Tompkins
Age - 74
October 29, 2023
Howard Burton Tompkins, aka Bud,
Howard "Bud" Tompkins, age 74, of Bordentown, NJ passed away on October 25, 2023. Bud was a kind and loving man who was always on the move. He was born on November 8, 1948, in Peekskill, NY and lived in a multi-family home with his grandparents and extended family until the age of 8. Bud's family moved from Peekskill to a single-family home in Waverly, NY where he spent the rest of his adolescent years.
Bud attended Waverly High School where he met Sharon St. Cyr who would forever change his life. He graduated from high school in 1967 and furthered his edu-cation at SUNY Oneonta, where he obtained his Bachelor's degree. After college, he married his high school sweetheart and began their 52 years of marriage together.
The newlyweds moved to Michigan where Bud attended the University of Michi-gan and completed a Master's of Public Health. Bud and Sharon moved to NJ in 1975 in pursuit of Bud's job opportunity. Bud joined the State of New Jersey De-partment of Environmental Protection as the start of what would be a 30-year ca-reer in public service. He achieved the position of Bureau Chief in the Division of Water Quality and worked to develop the Wastewater Reuse program, which facili-tated the irrigation of crops and golf courses with treated non-potable water, re-ducing the strain on municipal water supplies. Bud retired in 2008, leaving behind a lasting impact on water conservation efforts.
Bud and Sharon bought a house on Laurel Avenue, raised a family and built a life in Bordentown. They had one daughter Leslie, who was the spitting image of her father as a child. The family was active in Christ Church Bordentown, where Bud served on the vestry and supported the youth group by dressing up as Chewbacca for the haunted house. As Leslie started high school, Bud spent his evenings combing through the Peterson's Guide to Four Year Colleges searching for just the right environment for his only daughter. Once their daughter left for college, Bud and Sharon made a family commitment to follow Leslie wherever she went - to New Hampshire, to Raleigh, NC, to Baltimore, MD, to Falls Church, VA, and even all the way to Australia. Along the way, Bud welcomed his daughter's closest friends as surrogate sons and daughters to his small but mighty family of three. Bud celebrated the addition of a son-in-law when Leslie married Andrew Steen in 2014 and was overjoyed to meet granddaughter, Elena Maeve in March 2021. Bud and Sharon have spent much of the past 2 years visiting VA and watching Elena grow one month as a time.
Bud was a natural athlete and had a passion for sports. During his youth, he played Little League, American Legion, and high school baseball. As an adult, he joined the men's softball league of Bordentown, playing two nights a week for twelve weeks every summer, along with occasional weekend tournaments. He learned to ski as an adult and even taught his daughter. Winter trips to North Conway NH were a popular family adventure. After retiring from softball, Bud shifted his focus to golf, enjoying the challenges and camaraderie it offered. Once he retired from work, Bud had even more time to focus and improve his game. In 2008, his daughter challenged him to run a 5K and Bud took up another new sport, running several 5K and 10K races with his daughter over the next 15 years.
The retired life worked well for Bud. He and Sharon retired together in 2008 and spent the past 15 years living their best life. He took pride in the responsibility of keeping a lovely home. Bud enjoyed tending the lawn, planting flowers and maintaining the pool. We all think he enjoyed the fuss when family, friends, grandkids and surrogate families would visit every summer for a pool-side weekend. Bud al-so enjoyed the road and traveled frequently with Sharon and his 'other wife' Judy McCabe; this threesome traveled up and down the East Coast from Wells, ME to Orlando, FL and loved every second. Bud was fond of his family traditions and Christmas time was his favorite - he had to decorate the tree with every ornament being placed just so; the house was covered in snowflakes, poinsettias, and more pillows than anyone would ever need; he still kept secrets and there were always presents from 'Santa. ' Bud loved his family, and it showed in everything he did.
Bud is survived by his wife, Sharon St. Cyr (of Bordentown, NJ), daughter, Leslie Steen (with Andrew Steen of Falls Church, VA) and granddaughter, Elena; sister, Linda Husted (with Scott Husted of Binghamton, NY), brother, Robert Tompkins (of Ellenton, FL) and an extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his mother, Ellen, his father Ralph Sr. (both of Ellenton, FL) and his brother Ralph Jr. (of Waverly, NY). He also leaves behind family friends, former teammates, and others who loved him dearly.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday November 4 2023, 12:00 pm at Christ Church Parish 130 Prince St. Bordentown NJ 08505. Calling hours will be held in the church's chapel Saturday morning from 10:00 am until the time of mass, burial will follow in Christ Church Cemetery behind the church.
Bud will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him. His legacy as a dedicated environmentalist, sports enthusiast, and loving husband, father, Pop-Pop and friend will be cherished forever.
Arrangements are under the direct care and supervision of Robert L. Pecht, Bordentown Home for Funerals 40 Crosswicks St. Bordentown, NJ 08505. Please go to Howard's Book of memories page at www. Bordentownhomeforfunerals. com for directions, to up-load a picture, or offer condolences to the familyShow more
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