Obituary for Elizabeth Lee Thomas (Rickert)
Elizabeth Lee (Rickert) Thomas, 94, beloved wife of Richard Hadley Thomas, died Saturday, February 1, 2020 in Simsbury, CT. Born October 15, 1925 in Newark, NJ, she was the daughter of Thomas Hammer and Nancy Lee (Hendon) Rickert. The Thomases raised their four children primarily in Moreland Hills, OH and retired to Harwich, MA prior to moving to Simsbury, CT seven years ago. Lee Thomas was a graduate of Randolph Macon College for Women (BA, Philosophy) and Bryn Mawr College (MA, Philosophy). A social worker for many years, she also enjoyed swimming, tennis, playing bridge, reading The New Yorker, and, Bible study with the Episcopal Church. She spent every summer with family and a community of friends sailing, canoeing, picking blueberries, baking pies, and playing cards at their vacation spot in Georgian Bay, Ontario. She and her husband traveled through North America and Europe on a tandem bike, covering thousands of miles. Her willingness to slog hundreds of miles in less-than-ideal weather earned her the nickname, “the Saint,” by her friends.
Married for 64 years, she was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her children, Katherine Freygang of Cornwall, CT, Nancy Thomas and husband Mark Neikrie of Glastonbury, CT, Charles Thomas and wife Mary Lee White of Wilson, WY and Richard Thomas, Jr. of Duluth, MN; her grandchildren, Aliina Charging Hawk, Thomas Charging Hawk and his wife, Illona Yukhayev, Nathaniel Flagg, M. Jesse Neikrie, Yara Thomas, Richard Thomas, Benjamin Neikrie, and Sawyer Thomas.
A tribute will be held on Saturday, February 8th from 2 pm to 4 pm at McLean retirement community, 75 Great Pond Rd. Simsbury, CT 06070, in the Hartford Room of the Burkholder Center. In lieu of flowers, tribute gifts may be made to the Randolph College Annual Fund, P.O. Box 3215, Lynchburg, VA 24503 or at www.randolphcollege.edu/give/online/ for online tributes.
Married for 64 years, she was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her children, Katherine Freygang of Cornwall, CT, Nancy Thomas and husband Mark Neikrie of Glastonbury, CT, Charles Thomas and wife Mary Lee White of Wilson, WY and Richard Thomas, Jr. of Duluth, MN; her grandchildren, Aliina Charging Hawk, Thomas Charging Hawk and his wife, Illona Yukhayev, Nathaniel Flagg, M. Jesse Neikrie, Yara Thomas, Richard Thomas, Benjamin Neikrie, and Sawyer Thomas.
A tribute will be held on Saturday, February 8th from 2 pm to 4 pm at McLean retirement community, 75 Great Pond Rd. Simsbury, CT 06070, in the Hartford Room of the Burkholder Center. In lieu of flowers, tribute gifts may be made to the Randolph College Annual Fund, P.O. Box 3215, Lynchburg, VA 24503 or at www.randolphcollege.edu/give/online/