Obituary of Thomas Frank Arielly

Thomas Frank Arielly, 87, went to his eternal rest on April 20, 2015. He was born on January 8, 1928 in East Rochester, NY to Dominic and Eleanor Arielly, the second of their six children. He served in the Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force, leaving the service at the grade of Sergeant, and went on to attend Brockport University, where he graduated in 1953 and began a 32-year career in public education in Waterloo, N.Y. In 1956 he moved to Tri-Valley Central School in Grahamsville, N.Y. where he taught 6th grade, and was the elementary school principal for 19 years. He was never happier than when he was surrounded by the kids at his school, some of whom would not start their day without a "hug from Mr. Arielly". While at Tri-Valley he met Barbara Knox, and they were married on August 24, 1957. They settled in Neversink, N.Y, where they lived for over thirty years, and raised their four children there. After his retirement in 1985, Tom was elected Town Justice of the Town of Neversink, a position he served in for three years. He was very active in the local Lions Club. In 1994 Tom and Barbara relocated to The Villages in Lady Lake FL, where they have lived since. Tom was a familiar face behind the clubhouse desk at the Tierra del Sol, Glenview and Hacienda Hills Country Clubs, where his ready smile welcomed many a golfer to a day on the links. He was a life-long avid golfer (he finally got his hole-in-one at The Villages), bowler, and he loved the lifestyle of The Villages. He was a member of American Legion Post 347. He is survived by Barbara by his loving wife of 57 years, four children; son Thomas Michael and wife Iris, son Anthony John and wife Tanis, daughter Lisa Ann and husband Pete, and daughter Barbara Lynn and husband Jack; his sister Michelle Luke of Madison, GA, sister Gloria Stuhmiller of Madison GA, brother Richard of Anderson, SC; sister Lillian Peters of Sun City, AZ; nine grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a huge extended family of all the children who he so positively influenced over the years. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister: Pearl Nau. In Lieu of flowers donations are requested to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and the Alzheimer's Association. A visitation will be held on Monday, May 4, 2015 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 4:00 PM at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 1511 Buenos Aires Blvd., The Villages, FL. Hiers-Baxley.com