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Thomas O. Conklin of Bridgehampton died at his home on November 26. He was 83.
Born on April 30, 1931, in Bridgehampton to Otis D. and Anna (Hildreth) Conklin, he grew up at Breeze Hill Farm on Scuttlehole Road. He graduated from Bridgehampton High School in 1949 and attended Cornell University. He returned to Bridgehampton to join his father and uncle in running the potato farm, eventually acquiring more land, which allowed him to start grading and packing his own “Tiger Spud” brand potatoes. His family said he had a great love of the land and soil.
He married Margaret “Peg” White Nugent on November 30, 1957.
Mr. Conklin was a lifelong member of the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, serving many terms on its boards. He was also very active in the Long Island Farm Bureau.
Survivors said he loved family get-togethers and his friends found him to be great fun in his own sort of way.
In the 1970s, Mr. Conklin visited St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which became his paradise, and thereafter he spent as much time as possible in the Caribbean.
Mr. Conklin is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Margaret; two daughters, Diana White Conklin and Erin Wells Conklin; two sons, Thomas Hildreth Conklin and Ross Nugent Conklin and wife Jennifer Walter; and four grandchildren, Grace, David, Lilly and Sammy; a brother, Benjamin Conklin; and two sisters, Nancy Halsey and husband Charlton Halsey, and Ellen Subin.
A graveside service will be held at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton on December 20 at 2 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, www.bridgehamptonpc.org; the Bridgehampton Fire Department, Box 1280, Bridgehampton, NY 11932; or a charity of choice.
on Dec 8, 2014