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Nov
14
2007
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Thomas G. Payne, Sr. |
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by Lansing Funeral Home
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Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
Thomas G. Payne, Sr., age 81, of 30 East Meadow Drive, Ithaca, passed away on Thursday, November 8, 2007, at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca.
The son of Grace Keyes Payne and Clair L. Payne of Susquehanna, PA, Thomas was predeceased by his son, Thomas G. Payne, Jr. (Grant). He is survived by his wife, Katharine Conlon Payne. Tom had a special bond with his devoted daughter, Clare L. (Roderick) Holmes; and with his granddaughter, Jessica Holmes. He is also survived by his brother, Jesse H. (Joan) Payne of Windsor, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
After graduation from Susquehanna High School, Tom enlisted in the US
Army at age 18 and took part in the Ryukus campaign of Operation
Iceberg in the South Pacific during World War II. He was wounded in the
battle for Okinawa and was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star for
bravery.
After the war, Tom's education was completed at
Keystone College, Pennsylvania State University and Iowa State
University. In 1953, Tom came to Cornell to direct a field study for
the Department of Rural Sociology. After the study he left academia for
public service, originating the Tompkins County Office of Real Property
Taxation. Tom served as Member of the Executive Board and then as
President of the New York State Assessors Association. He participated
in the writing of NY State's Assessment Improvement Bill and also wrote
the description of the assessment function in the Tompkins County
Charter, which established the County Assessment Department. He served
as Director of Assessment of Tompkins County for 16 years. Tom was made
a Fellow of the NY State Institute of Assessing Officers, of which he
was a life member. He was a Project Advisor to the International
Association of Assessing Officers for the preparation of its Reference
Manual on improving assessments for the US Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
Tom was recognized by the IAO JOURNAL in January 2005 as one of the pioneers of assessment improvement in New York State.
Tom
enjoyed keeping in touch with current lay opinions on the assessment
function by debating them with his brother-in-law, Pat Conlon.
A
lifelong lover of boating, Tom spent his vacations traveling the fresh
water routes of New York State and Canada. He traveled to Montreal and
the St. Lawrence via the Rideau Canal, cruising the Welland Canal to
Toronto, the Erie Canal, the Trent Severn Canal to Georgian Bay, and
after retirement took the boat to Florida via the Inland Waterway for
the winter. In 1988, Tom and Kate moved aboard their trawler, "Cayuga
Belle", and subsequently traveled to the Gulf of Mexico by way of the
Mississippi and Tombigbee Rivers. Tom was a member of the Ithaca Yacht
Club and founding member of Ithaca's Flotilla 2-2 of the Coast Guard
Auxiliary.
A charter member of Lansing United Methodist Church,
Tom served as a Trustee. He was a life member of the Canawacta Masonic
Lodge of Susquehanna, PA, and a founding and life member of the Blinded
Veterans Association.
A memorial service conducted by the Rev.
Wm. Gottschalk-Fielding will be held at Lansing United Methodist Church
on Friday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception in
celebration of Tom's life and a luncheon at 12:00 noon. A committal
service will be held at the convenience of the family. Gifts in Tom's
memory may be made to the Memorial Committee of the Lansing Methodist
Church, 32 Brickyard Rd., Lansing, NY 14882. Arrangements are under the
direction of Lansing Funeral Home, 32 Auburn Road, Lansing.
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