George Thomas ‘Tom’ Kerry
Retired military intelligence specialist who loved wildlife and took up nature photography was ‘easygoing and a real patriot’
George Thomas “Tom” Kerry, a retired military security expert and wildlife enthusiast, died in his sleep Sunday of complications of kidney failure and Alzheimer’s disease at the Sunrise of Carroll Assisted Living facility in Westminster. He was 83 and had lived in Severna Park and Lisbon in Howard County.
Born in Chicago, he was the son of George Rice Kerry and his wife, Alice Christine Schouman, an artist. He was a 1955 graduate of Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico.
Mr. Kerry joined the Air Force and became a communications officer who specialized in security issues. He was chief of the communications section supporting the Strategic Reconnaissance Center. During the Vietnam War he flew security missions over Vietnam from an air base in the Philippines.
In 1970 he moved to Maryland and initially lived in Severna Park.
Mr. Kerry joined the National Security Agency, where he worked from 1971 to 1992. He developed security planning and cover designed to protect the secrecy of the program. He oversaw issues related to military operations, weapon system testing, hostile intelligence service operations, communications vulnerabilities and nuclear survivability programs.
“He worked with all levels of government to detect vulnerabilities, support combat operations and helped with planning the continuity of government,” according to a resume he prepared about his classified work.
Mr. Kerry retired from the NSA in 1992 and joined Aegis Research Corp. as a consultant in 1993 and worked as a contractor.
“My father was proud of the work he did for the government but never let anyone outside of the government know exactly what he did,” said his son, Steven Thomas Kerry of Woodbine. “He was a man who was loved by everyone who worked for him. People said he was the best boss they had ever had in their career. But it was his family that he cared about most.”
His son said Mr. Kerry owned 6 acres in Howard County. He owned horses and was an avid rider.
“My father loved animals of all kinds. He had several dogs, cats and horses,” said his son. “While living in Lisbon he saw his sons graduate from Glenelg High School and go off to college.”
In 1999 Mr. Kerry moved to Woodland Park, Colorado, in a mountainous setting near Pikes Peak.
“This was his favorite place to live,” his son said. “He would often have black bear, bobcat, fox, elk, skunks and mule deer passing through his yard. It sometimes reminded you of a Disney movie.
“My father was often surrounded by deer as he fed them during the winter. At one point he had up to 30 deer in his yard. They were of all generations. The oldest he called ‘Grandpa’ would come up to him while he was pouring the feed and envelop him in his antlers with no more injury than a slightly torn coat. They loved him as much as he loved them.”
While in Colorado, he traveled to Canada, California, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico and other states.
“Tom was a true gentleman and a great friend. He was a loyal person,” said a friend, David Turley of Woodland Park. “He was easygoing and a real patriot in his work for the federal government.”
Mr. Kerry also took up photography. “He was a natural photographer,” his son said. “He took pictures of the mountains and wildlife. His pictures were so good he printed them on canvas and metal. Many were sold or donated to the local hospital where they hung on the walls.”
Mr. Kerry joined American Legion Post 1980 and organized Veterans Day celebrations. He was also involved with Mountain View United Methodist Church, where he was an usher.
“He always sat up front and enjoyed the choir and music,” his son said.
A daily walker, he went on treks of 4 or more miles in a nearby national forest with his dog, Boo.
Mr. Kerry returned to Maryland last year. In addition to his son, survivors include two other sons, Robert Allen Kerry of Gambrills and Jeffrey Michael Kerry of Hanover, Pennsylvania; a brother, William S. Kerry of Virginia Beach, Virginia; a sister, Marylin Kirkpatrick of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and four grandchildren. His marriages to Dorine Alice Van Houten and Virginia Lee Buckingham ended in divorce.
A memorial service is being planned for June.