Tormod (“Tom”) Reinertsen of Rehoboth, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2021 from complications of dementia. He was born July 1,1936 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Tryggve and Kristine (Sundal) Reinertsen of Stavanger, Norway and later of Valley Stream, New York.
Tom was married to his wife Susan (Roedel) Reinertsen for 23 wonderful years. Together they renovated a historic (1872) Victorian house in Rehoboth, MA., and designed and planted Victorian like gardens on the 2-acre wooded property. He and his wife traveled with family and friends to Paris, England, New Hampshire, the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard, and Utah.
Tom had a large family and enjoyed visiting with them. Tom had two daughters: Sharon Jelinsky and her husband Pat of El Sabrante, CA and Jeanne Goodson and her husband Jerimiah of Helena, AL. He also had two sons: Erik Reinertsen of Philadelphia, PA and Michael Reinertsen and his wife Ashley of Fall River, MA. Tom had one daughter-in-law: Sharon Katsigianis (deceased) of Taunton, MA. He leaves behind five beautiful grandchildren: Ben and Asher Jelinsky, Jase and Jenna Goodson, and Nathan Katsigianis. In addition, he had a brother Hawk (deceased) and his wife Mary of Ridgefield, CN as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Tom was a toy inventor by trade and tinkerer by nature. Upon receiving his Bachelor of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, Tom served as an officer in the army stationed in Toule, France for 3½ years, when he toured Europe extensively. Tom started work in the toy industry as a designer in 1963 in New York. Tom progressed to a position as a Senior Director of Advance Research for Hasbro Industries in R.I. Tom left there in 1988 to pursue his own Inventing and Development Co. Tom worked for over 30 years in the Toy Industry and held many patents.
Tom had many interests, loved to tell stores, laugh, and have people join him for a glass of homemade wine and good food. Babies always were a delight to him, finding them cuddly and entertaining to observe, often giving him a good laugh. He loved all kinds of animals, but especially cats, dogs, wild birds, frogs, and horses. He grew thornless raspberries, strawberries, and grapes, as well as every summer he had a vegetable garden.
Tom was a Jehovah’s Witness for over 30 years and found great pleasure in helping people come to understand the Bible and thus develop a closer relationship with Jehovah. He formed many close friendships with fellow worshipers.
Tom’s Funeral Talk will be held over Zoom on June 5, 2021.