Deceased July 4, 2011
View alumni profile (log in required)
Read obituary
In Memory
Tom Sheridan, a decorated Vietnam veteran, attorney and one of the longest serving clerks of the Connecticut State Senate, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2011, in Glastonbury, Conn., at age 62 after a year-long battle with cancer. Sheridan transferred to Amherst from Manchester Community College and majored in political science. He married his wife, Nancy (Milewski) Sheridan, while at Amherst, and they lived off campus.
Nancy said Tom was very happy at Amherst and especially enjoyed playing intramural rugby with other students and Dean Drinkwater. “He just really appreciated the education he got there, after having been at a community college,” Nancy said.
Tom’s enthusiasm for contact sports continued as an adult, when he was involved for many years with the Glastonbury (Conn.) Youth Football Association and later with the Glastonbury High School Friends of Football organization. He recently received the Contribution to Football Award from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Before going to college, Tom served two tours in Vietnam as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. He received the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and other awards.
After graduation, Tom received his law degree from Suffolk University in Boston. He was a longtime partner with the firm of Dwyer, Sheridan and Fitzgerald in Glastonbury, where he had a general practice.
After first being House clerk of the Connecticut General Assembly, he served as Senate clerk for almost 30 years. Tom is survived by two sons, Kevin and Brett, as well as by Nancy and many other relatives.
Bob McCartney ’75