Longtime Bay Head Resident, Council Member, Firefighter Thomas W. Applegate Dies

Courtesy of Pable Evertz Funeral Home:

Thomas W. Applegate, a lifelong resident of Bay Head, died on Jan. 30. He was 82.

Tom grew up in Bay Head, graduated from Bay Head Elementary School, Point Pleasant Beach High School and Lehigh University where he loved Point Beach Garnet Gulls and Lehigh Mountain Hawks football.

After college he served in the U.S. Army. He was an active member of the Bay Head Fire Company for over 60 years, serving as both Fire Chief and President. He was a member of the Point Pleasant Beach Rotary Club for more than 50 years and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. Tom sat on the Bay Head Borough Council for 28 years, eight of them as council President. He was on the Board of Directors for Manasquan Savings for 34 years and was chairman for eightyears. Tom's love of sailing drew him to the Bay Head Yacht Club where he was an active member serving as both Treasurer and Commodore.

Tom owned and operated his family's business Applegate's Hardware. Applegate's was a place where the community gathered in friendship for over 100 years. Tom was at home in his business together throughout the years with his wife Betty Lou, family and the many employees who became family.

For the past 30 years Tom traveled frequently to Tortola, BVI where he enjoyed vacations filled with rum punch, sailing, sunsets and reading on the beach under the palm trees together with the love of his life, Betty Lou.

Tom is survived by his wife and best friend, Betty Lou Applegate, his son and daughter-in-law Andy Applegate and Cara Applegate, daughter and son-in-law Joyce Applegate-Tillson and Chip Tillson, daughter and son-in-law Meryl Clement and Duke Clement and grandchildren Victoria Clement and Jacob Clement and his brothers and sisters of the Bay Head Fire Company.

Donations can be made in Tom's memory to the Bay Head Fire Company.

A memorial service will be held at Saint Paul's United Methodist Church, 423 West Lake Ave, Bay Head, on Saturday February 18th at 11am.

For condolences to the family, please visit www.pableevertzfuneralhome.com

Image: Patch file photo.