Tom & Carolyn Strnad
Tribute
Tribute for Thomas Joseph Strnad
Thomas Joseph Strnad, 70, of Pittsfield, MA, passed peacefully on February 24, 2025. His devoted wife Carolyn Sue Strnad passed on March 13, 2025.
Tom married Carolyn on August 16, 1992, in Woodstock, Connecticut. They enjoyed years of traveling with friends in the Dolomites, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Austria, and Switzerland among other places. They also traveled all across the United States from the Grand Canyon to Cape Cod.
Tom was born on May 3, 1954, to the late Joseph C. and Elizabeth T. (Olech) Strnad. He was raised in Vernon, CT. He and Carolyn called Wolcott, CT their home for many years.
Tom graduated from Rockville High School in 1972. He then graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1976 and from the University of Connecticut with a MS in Civil Engineering in 1979. He worked at several engineering firms over the years as a structural and project engineer often with a focus on bridges.
All his life he enjoyed being out in nature. He loved hiking, camping, biking, skiing, and tennis. He took pleasure in following the Tour de France, the pro tennis circuit, and UConn basketball. He also loved family game time during holiday get-togethers.
After retirement, Tom and Carolyn moved to the Berkshires to pursue their favorite activities: hiking, camping, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and concerts and picnics at Tanglewood with a close group of friends.
He is survived by his sisters; Linda Trzetziak (partner Brett Worsham) and Carol (David) Johnson; his nephews: Steven Trzetziak, Mark Johnson, and Brian Johnson; his sisters-in-law Myrna (Martin) DeAgostino and Judy Drudge; along with several aunts and many cousins
Memorial contributions may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club or Tanglewood.
Tribute for Carolyn Sue (Drudge) Strnad
Carolyn Sue (Drudge) Strnad, 71, of Pittsfield, MA, passed peacefully surrounded by family on March 13, 2025. Her devoted husband and caregiver, Thomas J. Strnad passed on February 24, 2025.
Carolyn married Thomas J. Strnad on August 16, 1992 in Woodstock, Connecticut. They enjoyed years of traveling with friends in the Dolomites, Bhutan, Nepal, and India among other places.
Carolyn was born on December 1, 1953 in Nashville, Tennessee to the late Walter J. and Mildred B. (Shoemaker) Drudge. Her family moved to California, Kansas, Ohio and then to Indiana. In the Spring and Summer of 1972, her family enjoyed living in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with a student group from Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana. Carolyn’s travel adventures were seeded in Honduras by traveling with her sister in small planes, trains, and by horseback to visit students.
She graduated from Goshen College with a B.A. in Music and from Wichita State with a M.A. in Piano Pedagogy. Due to an injury that resulted in tendonitis she pursued a career in IT. She worked at Consul Tech, Cigna and later at Prudential Insurance as a web designer.
Later, she studied a technique to avoid injury in playing the piano and relearned how to play. Playing piano duets with other pianists was rewarding after hours of dedicated practice of the new technique.
Carolyn’s true passion was the Arts which she enjoyed in her free time with friends and family. She was the ultimate tour guide as researching new adventures was a favorite activity. Also, she loved to take the train into New York City with friends to attend ballet, theater and to visit art museums. And, she always had a recommendation for the best restaurant for lunch.
Carolyn’s culinary skills were legendary and appreciated by her family and friends. She even perfected recipes for baking a cake for two; no reason not to savor dessert.
After retirement, Carolyn and Tom moved to the Berkshires to pursue their favorite activities: hiking, biking, skiing and concerts and picnics at Tanglewood with a close group of friends.
She is survived by her sisters; Myrna (Martin) DeAgostino of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Judy Engel Drudge of Somerville, Massachusetts.