Ft. Myers, FL / Sturbridge: Thomas Herold Hitchcock "Tom" of Sturbridge, MA / Ft. Myers, FL  died August 25, 2020 in Ft. Myers, FL.

Tom is survived by his wife Barbara; his children, Linda A. Hitchcock of Gig Harbor, WA; Nancy J. McGrade of College Grove, TN; stepson John R. Mulligan of Boston, MA and three grandchildren, Kyle T. McGrade, Erin R. McGrade, and Alexandra A. Mulligan.  Tom was born in Waverly, MO during June of 1936, the son of Ralph Herold Hitchcock and M. Elizabeth Thomas.  With America's entry into WW2, his parents relocated to South Carolina where Tom attended the Ben Tillman School.  Within a year, the family moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts and, after another year, returned to Missouri.  After the war, his family once again returned  to The Bay State where Tom spent his pre-teen years in the Atlantic section of Quincy and graduated from North Quincy High School in 1955. During his teens and early twenties, Tom was an active member of  the Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol and the Old Colony Chapter of The Order of DeMolay. Upon graduation Tom was employed as a mechanical draftsman with Jackson & Moreland Engineers, Boston, before enlisting in the US Army in 1956.  He graduated from the Army's Paratroop School at Fort Bragg and served with the Army's famous 82nd Airborne Division.  He became proficient with basic infantry weapons, an enthusiastic interest he carried for many years afterwards. Following his military service, Tom graduated from Boston University earning  a BFA degree in 1962.  A few years later Tom added a Masters degree from BU to his résumé.  This was followed by post graduate work in audio-visual communications.  From 1962 to 1973 Tom served as an art and art photography teacher, art director and art history coordinator for school systems in New York and Massachusetts. Tom greatly enjoyed traveling and favored touring North America, England, western and eastern Europe and Mexico. From 1969, until her death in 1992, Tom was married to the former Sarah Attig of Washington DC, an associate professor of nursing, on the staff of The Elms College in Chicopee, MA.  During the early 70s, Tom's fascination with flying culminated in flight school earning his pilot's wings and spending  many happy hours flying throughout New England. In 1972, Tom launched Monogram Aviation Publications; a family owned specialty book publishing company where he served as CEO for over thirty-five years. Tom's work became synonymous with high quality innovative book design. He was well known around the world attracting authors from the US and abroad and publishing more than 50  exceptional titles dedicated to military aviation subjects spanning most of the 20th century. Tom also found time to personally author and illustrate a dozen titles dealing with German aviation subjects.  Tom was especially proud when several Monogram books attained book-of-the-year awards and are now considered true collector editions.  As an adjunct to Tom's interest in German  aviation history, he  served as a consultant for the National Air and Space Museum's aircraft restoration division, contributing toward award-winning restorations of such well known WW II aircraft as the Messerschmitt 109, Focke-Wulf 190 and jet-powered Me 262 and Arado 234.  In 1993, Tom married Barbara Whitmeyer Mulligan, formerly of Rome, NY, who was the Executive Director of the Wing VNA and Hospice at Wing Hospital, in Palmer, MA, prior to her retirement. When not discussing airplanes and the publishing business, Tom was an amateur vexillologist and an ardent admirer of old cars and the owner of several old Cadillacs and a long-time active member in the Cadillac & LaSalle Club of America.  Tom especially loved animals with a decided preference for cats and was known to have provided more than one stray a fine home in the country.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1 ^st , from the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a Mass at 10:00am at the St. Anne's Church Pavilion, 16 Church St., Sturbridge.  Burial will be in St. Anne's Cemetery, Sturbridge.  Calling hours in the funeral home will be held on Monday, Aug. 31 ^st from 4:00 to 6:00pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Anne-St Patrick Parish 16 Church St. Fiskdale, MA 01518.