Thomas Peter Studley, of Fayston, Vermont, died in a tragic accident on July 5, 2025, at age 74. He was born May 5,1951, to parents Lillian C. (Godett) and Joseph N. Studley in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Tom graduated from Wakefield High School in 1969 and received a bachelors degree from Lowell State College with the dream of becoming a history teacher. After college Tom played rugby and helped coach soccer and hockey.
Shortly after the passing of his father, Tom moved to the Mad River Valley in 1982. Soon thereafter he purchased a little piece of paradise off Mansfield Road in Fayston. He began working at Mad River Glen in the 1980s. Tom joined MRG ski patrol in 1996 and became a senior patroller in 2000.Tom was a talented craftsman and handyman, with training from the Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Waitsfield.
Tom would balance his seasonal life by working as a carpenter as well as doing farm work on Hadley Gaylord’s Farm in Waitsfield. Tom followed his pursuit of taller mountains and deeper snow in 2006, when he and his then partner Cindy Conlin began ski patrolling at Powder Mountain in Utah. They continued their cross-country lifestyle, patrolling out west and coming back to New England during the summers for 13 years. During that time, Tom and Cindy enjoyed visits from family and friends and created lasting friendships in the Powder Mountain community. If there was snow, Tom was a happy man. In 2019, Tom moved back to his home in Fayston full time.
Tom will be remembered for his thoughtful nature, his classic curmudgeon attitude, his caring demeanor, and his love of skiing. Tom was known by most to be a quiet, hard-working guy, who lived a simple, peaceful existence. He took immaculate care of his land and built hundreds of feet of marvelous rock retaining walls. Tom had a knack for detail and was always a keen observer. As a first responder and local handyman, Tom’s impact stretched far and wide. Tom volunteered for Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports at Sugarbush and later for Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports at SnowBasin, Utah. Tom was a humble soul and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Tom is predeceased by his parents and numerous friends. Tom is survived by his brother Donald J. Studley and his wife Diane of Saugus, Massachusetts, as well as nephews Ryan and Kevin Studley, along with countless friends throughout the Mad River Valley, and ski patrollers across New England and throughout the Rocky Mountain west. Tom’s cat (wryly named “Cat” by Tom, of course) was eager to be reunited with Tom in the afterlife and sadly passed away on Monday, July 14.
Please join Tom’s family and friends to mourn and celebrate his life on the afternoon of Sunday, August 17, at 1 p.m. at Mad River Glen. To honor Tom, donations can be made in his memory to the Stark Mountain Foundation, Mad River Valley Ambulance Service, or Yestermorrow Design/Build School
