Thomas A. Tardif, 82

LACONIA — Thomas Armand Tardif, 82, of Winter Street, passed away at his home on Dec. 7, 2025.

Thomas was born on Oct. 18, 1943, in Laconia, the son of Armand and Marguerite (Dumais) Tardif.

Thomas A. Tardif was a good man. He was self-sacrificing and selfless. Tom always put others before himself. The betterment of his family was his life’s work and focus. He never took unnecessary risks, remained fiercely loyal to all who knew him. He was deeply pragmatic, purposeful, considerate, stoic, and maintained strong convictions. He was painfully reliable and responsible for his entire life. He truly was the rock of the family. He will be tremendously missed.

Born in Laconia, he was the product of French-Canadian descent with a far-reaching family tree. His family lost their father at a young age, leaving Tom as the only surviving male. This denied him eligibility for military service, and he made up for it by being community oriented his entire life. He repaired acquaintances' vehicles in his garage at no charge, from engines to bodywork and even welding. He repaired homes for elderly residents, served as a volunteer at Sacred Heart Church, the Belknap Mill Society, leading tours to local students. He will be recognized for many years of tireless engagement and involvement in city politics. He served as a city councilor for Ward 2 and went on for a two-year term as mayor of Laconia (1990-92).

His work career in the telecommunications industry brought him from a start with “Ma Bell,” New England Telephone, NYNEX, and ultimately he retired as a valued microwave technician from Verizon after a 34-year career. He never hesitated to leave home at 2 a.m. to restore lost services due to lightning storms or weather events all over New England, even spending an entire month in upstate New York during the great ice storm of 1998. He was a loyal and committed employee.

Tom got tremendous joy at the opportunity to take the winter snow cat to the top of Mount Washington as part of his year-round service of the tower equipment on top of the rock. He enjoyed watching Marty the weatherman from WMTW do his live weather reports on those overnight stays.

After retiring from daily work, he continued post-retirement as a self-employed carpenter, home builder, general contractor, handyman and wood crafter. He stayed incredibly busy. He was creative and had the mind of an engineer, even patenting some of his many ideas. He was self-described as a Jack of all trades, but master of none.

Would you call him a “doubting Thomas?” Perhaps. He endured contentious political disagreements with dignity and respect. This was probably due to his deep belief in a government that should be open, transparent, and accountable. He represented himself in numerous legal proceedings surrounding the “right-to-know” and related statutes. He studied the law and argued his legal positions fervently. He knew the Laconia City Charter inside and out. He was a champion for fair taxation and fiscal responsibility. He utilized The Laconia Daily Sun (letters to the editor) to express his ideas and elicit debate. Tom truly had a passion for local politics and the City of Laconia. Yet he somehow made time for many people without solicitation or hesitation. He prided himself in making lives better for everyone he encountered. He was a strong advocate for the “common man” who had no voice from his perception, his lens was largely a world of “haves versus have nots.”

Tom was largely self-taught in an enormously wide range of categories. He was fearless with any task put before him, whether it be cognitively analytical, intuitive in nature, complex problem-solving or physically demanding. He built the family’s house after work/evenings, plus weekends in 1977. He taught himself and became a licensed journeyman electrician and qualified apprentice plumber. He was a patient problem-solver with a range of talents and accomplishments.

He had a zest for life and experiences. In his youth he was active in the Laconia Jaycees Club (a leadership development and civic organization). Many Laconia natives will recall being scared as kids from his efforts and involvement in the haunted houses that used to be a locally famous thing in the '70s and '80s. He once road-tripped to the Daytona 500 and came back with trunk loads of fireworks from South of the Border — this brought satisfaction to the community, perhaps also some dissatisfaction from the neighborhood. He was a hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman and 4WD enthusiast when idle time existed with a young family. He even famously raced in an off-road rally in his 1968 Jeep Commando, which ultimately resulted in the destruction of the family’s vehicle.

Tom worked a second job at Western Auto for many years, repairing small engines and assembling new equipment in the store to provide for his family financially. He did his best to create lasting family memories (think Clark Griswold) with trips across the country in a late 1960s model Chevy Impala Station Wagon — this included visits to national parks all the way to San Francisco in the mid-1970s. Once he could finally afford it, he treated himself to the purchase of a 1986 Pontiac Trans Am, then eventually a new Chevy Corvette. He was proud of that achievement, as well as getting a new GMC pickup every few years in his later life.

Tom married Edith (Hammond) Tardif after meeting at Vocational Technical College in Manchester, and they have remained a unit for 61 years. Upon “retirement” they managed to finance travels worldwide while they both were relatively young people in their 50s — even reaching as far as New Zealand and South Africa. He made regular annual trips to his sibling in Nevada, to do repair work at her home and maintain the family bond. He was focused and dedicated to his grandkids and directly involved in the daily lives of his grandchildren along with Edith. Tom and Edie have been loyal patrons to many Lakes Region restaurant establishments and hopefully many will raise a strongly made Manhattan in honor of his life’s achievements.

He leaves behind three children, his first-born son, Armand "Tom" Tardif of Laconia and his two children, Stephanie and Colin Tardif; a daughter, Andrea Harper of Meredith, and her two children, Jared and Rylee Harper; and finally son Matthew who resides in Seattle with his three children, Amelia, Miles and Abraham Tardif. His great-grandkids Jake and Zoey will miss Pepe incredibly and carry fond memories throughout their lives. He is also survived by sisters Ann Marie Hobby of Laconia, and Suzanne Marlow of Reno, Nevada. He is predeceased by his parents.

Tom Tardif will be remembered as an honorable and dignified man. He was a proud and loyal father. He had superior strength, mental aptitude, and a demeanor with resolute calm and peace at its center — everything one envisions a great leader should possess. He had a servant’s heart. Tom Tardif led a life that was truly meaningful, impactful and consequential.

Services will be held in the spring.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., is assisting the family for summer service. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.