Wintergreen Resort / Wheat Ridge, Colorado
By Tommy Stafford
To say Tom Marker was a legend, an icon, or an institution at Wintergreen would be an understatement. Just ask anyone that worked or volunteered along side Tom before he and his wife Barbara moved out west to Colorado a few years ago after initially retiring to Wintergreen.
“The work ethic, as a volunteer, you just don’t get many that had his industrious attitude. We called him TVA – Tennessee Valley Authority. Tom was always wanting to reroute trails and improve things. He set the bar on what a volunteer should be. He’s what you aspire to be as a retiree. He wanted to know everything. He was like a sponge,” Josh Palumbo, Forest Management Coordinator at The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen, told us Monday morning after learning of Tom’s death from cancer a few days ago. Josh had just seen Tom back in the summer when he was at Wintergreen visiting with old friends.
For me personally Tom’s death was a shock. I wasn’t extremely close to Tom. We hadn’t talked in years. But, we often ran into each other while I was covering Wintergreen happenings during the early days of the magazine. He was always such a gentleman. And he loved The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen.
Aside from Josh, no one knew Tom better at Wintergreen than Liz Salas. She’s the former Director of Development. Liz left a within the past few years to take a job closer to home in Staunton. Below she reflects on Tom in her Facebook remembrance.
Below, Bob Clouston, who is still at Wintergreen today remembers Tom in his remarks after learning of his passing.
I guess Tom’s passing is so melancholy to me because I have watched so many of these legends pass in the 20 years we have lived here. They were some of our first friends as we started the magazine back in 2005. Many of them fresh into retirement, or not long into it. I’ve lost count of the ones that have passed in those two decades. But Tom certainly stood out among them all.
Here’s a link to Tom’s obituary back in Colorado, and it’s included verbatim below as well.
“Thomas Louis Marker, known affectionately as Tom, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2023, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado after a year long battle with esophageal cancer; but, his legacy of intelligence, humor, and kindness will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him. Born on February 13, 1950, in Rome, New York, Tom was the beloved son of the late Louis J. and Nellie P. Marker, and the cherished brother of the late Frederick A. Marker.
Tom was an alumnus of the University of Maryland, where he graduated with high honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. His intelligence and dedication led him to a rewarding career with the Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration where he served as a Computer Systems Analyst. Tom was known for his commitment and hard work, retiring in 2005 after over 35 years of service. His colleagues remember him as a dedicated professional who always brought a sense of humor and kindness to the office.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Tom was a loving husband to Barbara A. Marker. Together, they built a beautiful life filled with love and laughter. Their legacy continues with their two children, Kimberly M. Hughes, married to Michael J. Hughes, and Kristian A. Geiger, married to Amy L. Geiger. Tom was a proud grandfather to Sadie Jayne and Jacob Thomas Hughes. His family will remember him as a devoted father and grandfather who always made time for his loved ones.
Tom had a deep love for learning that extended beyond his formal education. He was an avid reader, often losing himself in books of all genres. His love for classical music often filled his home with melodies from Mozart to Mendelssohn. His interest in British culture earned him the title of a “hopeless anglophile,” and his pursuit of knowledge was a lifelong endeavor.
Tom was an avid outdoorsman. He spent countless hours maintaining the hiking trails in Wintergreen, Virginia as a member of The Wintergreen Nature Foundation. When he relocated to Evergreen, Colorado (to be near family) he started a ministry at The Church of the Transfiguration called The Hike-a-palians. He planned weekly hikes for sometimes as many as 15 to 20 people. Upon hearing of his passing, one of his hikers had this to say about him: “Tom was the epitome of a truly gracious, thoughtful and caring leader with the ability to use his intellectual curiosity, his sense of humor and his zest for life to encourage all those in his presence to appreciate the miracles of nature surrounding us.”
Tom Marker’s life was a testament to the power of dedication, love, and kindness. He was a devoted family man, and an ardent lover of music, literature and nature. While he is no longer with us physically, his spirit and legacy will continue to inspire everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Fly high Tom. I doubt any of us will ever be able to hike any trail out here in these mountains and not think back on all you did to help make this a much better place.
