Beloved former Middlebrook School teacher Tom Everett, who taught social studies at the school for almost 40 years, has succumbed to ALS, which he battled for eight years. He passed away peacefully at home at the age of 68 on Oct. 8.

His wife, Diane, helped Tom tell his story to GOOD Morning Wilton readers last month when the social media fundraising phenomenon of the ALS ice bucket challenge swept the world, and devoted friends and former Middlebrook colleagues honored Tom with a school-wide ice bucket dousing.

Everett’s friends call themselves “the Fellas.” The group includes Mark Ketley, the executive director of Trackside Teen Center. The two became friends when Ketley, who grew up in Wilton, played on a baseball team coached by Everett. Current Middlebrook dean Jory Higgins is also a close friend, organizing and leading an annual fundraising team called T.E.’s Fellas and Ladies for the ALS Association “Walk to Defeat ALS” in October. They will be walking on Oct. 26 to honor Tom’s memory in the Westport “Walk to Defeat ALS.”

According to the obituary published in Chautauqua Today, “Tom was born in Nyack, NY on January 3, 1946. He moved to Fredonia, NY with his family when he was 10 years old and attended Fredonia Schools and Fredonia, State University of New York, where he received his BS in Social Studies Education. He taught briefly at Maple Grove High School before moving to Connecticut, where he spent the remainder of his 40 year teaching career as an eighth grade social studies teacher at Middlebrook. Tom touched the lives of thousands of students who still remember him as one of their best and favorite teachers and coaches.

“Tom was a familiar figure in Western NY during the 60’s when he was the lead singer for the bands, ‘The Cavemen’ and ‘The Heard.’ He wrote many beautiful songs for his family and brought music into his classroom by writing songs about American History for his students.

“Tom’s athletic career started as a Fredonia Hillbilly on the baseball and football fields and on the basketball court, and continued throughout his life as long as he was able. He was a dedicated basketball player until his late 50’s and he continued to run until his legs no longer allowed him to do so.

“Tom will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and brother, and one of the best friends of everyone who knew him. He was unfailingly cheerful, positive, and outgoing, and he loved parties and family gatherings.

“Tom is survived by his wife, Diane Everett, his daughter, Tamara Everett, his son, Jonathan Everett, his daughter-in-law, Joelle (Eiden) Everett, his grandson, Parker Everett, his sister Sue Engberg, and his brother Ace Everett, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents Floss and Bill Everett and by his sister Barbara Saletta.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the efforts of the T.E. Fellas and Ladies can do so on the team’s fundraising page.