Thomas Martin Arienti, 85, died on March 9, 2016 at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Tom leaves his loving wife of 58 years, Margaretha, and five children and their spouses: Cecilia Wilkinson and her husband, George; Mark and his wife, Anna Louise Englund; Per and his wife, Kari; Elizabeth (Lili) Arienti Sloane and her husband, Todd Sloane; and Nicholas and his wife, Fran. He also leaves 10 beloved grandchildren: George, Charlotte, Katharine, Lars, Olivia, Ian, Caitlyn, Teddy, Evan and Anders.
Born and raised in Great Barrington, Tom was the son of Charles and Dorothy Arienti, and brother to J. Paul Arienti. He graduated from Searles High School and the Cranwell School, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the Catholic University of America in 1955.  At Catholic University, he wrestled and played baseball until he sustained a shoulder injury, and subsequently was recruited by the track coach. On the track team he ran the 440 and half-mile, and mile relay winning numerous medals, and competed nationally, including in the Penn Relays. He was also a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity.
Having learned as a teenager to fly airplanes at the Great Barrington Airport, Tom joined the ROTC in college, and subsequently served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He completed flight training and served at bases including Hamilton Air Force base in California, flying the F-89 Scorpion. He later served in the Air Force Reserves at Barnes Air Force base in Westfield.
Tom and Margaretha, who were married in San Francisco in 1958, moved from California to Stockbridge in 1959, and have lived there ever since. After starting and operating his own architectural practice in Stockbridge for many years, Tom became a partner with Terry Hallock in Pittsfield during the 1980s and 1990s, and reluctantly concluded his career at the age of 80 with his solo practice in Pittsfield.
Tom was a dedicated sports enthusiast, coaching Tri-Town Youth Hockey and Stockbridge Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball for many years, and closely followed his children’s sports teams and numerous athletic endeavors. Tom was an enthusiastic fan of the Boston Red Sox, relishing their recent World Series victories, and when the Sox were not in season cheered on the Bruins, Celtics and New England Patriots. He helped found the Stockbridge Planning Board, on which he served as chairman for many years, and worked as a volunteer fireman in the Stockbridge Fire Department. Tom was a former member of the Stockbridge Kiwanis Club, Stockbridge Golf Club and a former member of the Great Barrington Savings Bank Board of Trustees.
Funeral services for Thomas M. Arienti, who died March 9, will be held on Monday, March 14 with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at noon in St. Joseph’s Church, Stockbridge. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery. Family will receive friends on Sunday March 13 from 2-4 p.m. at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South St., Great Barrington MA 01230. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy in Thomas’ memory may be made to the Disabled American Veterans or Saint Joseph’s Church in Stockbridge, Mass., in care of the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
