Thomas Gregory Baldacci was born on January 25, 1937 in Richmond, Virginia to Paul and Allwin Baldacci. The family moved to Akron, Ohio where he and his brothers, Paul, Louis, and Peter actively participated in the school and local community activities, thriving while their parents built a lasting legacy underpinned by a graceful dignity of standards they demanded of their boys and runs today throughout the Baldacci Family.

Tom exhibited the natural leadership skills imbued by his parents and a uniquely creative view of the world that would fuel his exploits throughout his career. But first he combined forces with his brothers on the football field at St. Vincent’s High School and was a standout wrestler. The boys trained during the off seasons by shoveling coal into steel mill barges on the Akron River. The work lent well to the outcomes on the field. Tom received a football scholarship to The Ohio State University.

As a guard and linebacker for the Buckeyes Tom made the key interception against Wisconsin that sealed the Buckeyes trip to the 1958 Rose Bowl, and the team was crowned National Champions.

Athletic exploits aside, Ohio State provided the scene for a lifelong love affair with Judy Eifert Baldacci. Nuptials were 1958, and the subsequent 68 years of marriage shaped a partnership for the ages. Judy and Tom’s life together was fueled by their commitment to provide each other with love, faithfulness, honesty, and many other attributes that lent to their longevity and success.

After a short stint as a chemistry teacher and wrestling coach at Upper Arlington High School in Ohio, Tom determined that his career would be built around marketing and creativity. He joined the 3M Company and quickly received two promotions. The first brought Tom, Judy and their first two young boys, Joseph and Stephen, to Allendale, NJ. The second promotion led the family to St. Louis, MO, where third son, Matthew arrived.

Tom was a natural entrepreneur. Fearless, creatively talented, and wanting to compete professionally at the highest level, Tom declined a senior role offered by 3M headquarters in Minneapolis and moved the family to Ridgewood, NJ, a suburb of New York City, where he soon launched his first successful venture, Audioimage. As Tom grew Audioimage, and later Baldacci Productions, his work had profound impact on the manner in which pharmaceutical companies communicated to the healthcare ecosystem. Baldacci Productions was recognized for innovation and pioneering approaches and received dozens of awards and industry accolades over the span of Tom’s career as a writer, director, and producer.

Never one to miss an opportunity, in the midst of his creative career, Tom and Judy elected to acquire the local hardware store. A large enterprise, Ridgewood General Hardware catered to the local community and the trades. With Judy running the retail operations and Tom expanding his production business, the three boys received the benefits of working with their parents in all endeavors.

The work Tom did was not only professional, but created lifelong friendships and respect across the many areas that he worked. The indelible impact of Tom has been his ability to build businesses that served communities and industries with integrity and care.

Ready for new adventures, in 2003 Tom and Judy relocated to The Landings on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia. Energetic as always, Tom immersed himself in the community. An outstanding photographer, he began to capture historical imagery of the low country. Traveling about, he was inspired to catalog the history, which led to his popular book, “Little Stories About Savannah.” The creative writing bug never left, and he was an active contributor to local publications This Week At the Landings and The Skinnie. Always an active athlete, he recorded a hole in one during his very first golf outing on the Palmetto Course on Skidaway. Reflecting his contributions, Tom was honored as Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in 2005 by The Landings Association.

Tom was a husband and father committed to his extended family and mentor to many. He brought tremendous energy to all of his endeavors from coaching youth sports to film production; from photography to authoring, and professional innovation. He earned fondness and respect with every effort.

Tom is survived by the love of his life, Judy, his three sons, twelve grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

A funeral mass to celebrate Tom’s life will be held at Saint James the Less Catholic Church on July 17, at 11:00 AM, with interment immediately after at Catholic Cemetery, Savannah. The Family will welcome friends and family at The Landings that afternoon.