Thomas Waddell
1942 – 2024

Tom Waddell was born in Denver Colorado in the fall of 1942.  His father/mother (Dr Emmett Waddell and Elsie Thomas Waddell) moved to Tucson Arizona in the 1950s as a general surgeon.  
Tom and his brothers resided on the NE side of Tucson at the Ranch.  He was sent off to Boarding school in Bryn Athyn, PA in the late 1950s where he met the love of his life Linda Coffin. They married in 1962 at the age of 19….Linda worked and put Tom through school as a biologist which in turn landed him a job as a Warden with the Az Game and Fish Department.  They would find themselves in Pima, Az at Cluff Ranch where they started their family.  Their children Thomas, Nancy, Jessie, John, Stephanie, and Christine were all brought into this world and raised on this wildlife refuge.  Tom and Linda spent 25 years in this chapter of their lives…

When he retired from the AZG&F department he landed back in his childhood home in Tucson for a short two years. Retirement did not suit him and he soon found himself in New Mexico, working on the Armendaris Ranch for Turner Enterprises.  He really found his life passion there as he had the knowledge and resources to truly protect the wildlife and establish healthy environments for nature.  He was able to work with endangered species and the biologist in him thrived in this environment.  His family would continue to grow and when he worked in New Mexico..his family grew with 17 grandchildren.  He would spend 23 years on this Ranch and after retirement he would find himself back in Tucson on the family land. 

The remaining time of Tom’s life was in true retirement.  He would celebrate 61 years of marriage to Linda and would reside next to family.  His last few days of life was completing a bucket list trip. He has always wanted to see the big Sequoia Trees in CA.  So the family loaded up for a long road trip to see the trees. They were beautiful and Toms eyes filled with tears when he saw how amazing the trees were. His journey of life ended on this trip in Reno, NV surrounded by his brother, wife, children, and grandchildren.   He truly lived life to the fullest right up to his last breath.  He will certainly be missed.