Thomas Marvin Smylie
"We didn’t inherit the planet. We’re borrowing it from our children."
Tom Smylie died peacefully at home in Edgewood NM. His good humor, dependability, insatiable curiosity and kindness will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He leaves behind Cherie Rife Smylie, his wife of 42 years; their daughter, Jamelle Peregrine Smylie; his children, Kathleen Phillips and Tom Smylie, Jr. and their families; his sister, Susan Chavez and her husband Don and son Sean; and his falcons and faithful dogs.
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tom graduated from UNM in 1960, served in the US Marine Corps, taught science at Albuquerque Pubic Schools, coached wrestling and football, and worked for the US Forest Service. The last 25 years of his career were spent with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, retiring as Asst. Regional Director.
One thread has woven itself through his life experiences since college - his fascination, respect and devotion to raptors. His research, training, stalwart support and breeding efforts took him from the US to Europe, Greenland and the Dry Tortugas. He and a small group of dedicated falconers provided their peregrines as breeding stock to The Peregrine Fund, which ultimatelycontributed to the removal of the species from the endangered list.
Tom believed education was key to saving our planet and living in harmony with the creatures of the world. As an educator and spokesman for conservation, Tom was a consummate teacher, drawing upon his knowledge of the outdoors to kindle a life-long appreciation for wildlife and wild places for those he met. He taught this through his stories, presentations, articles, and live demonstrations throughout the country, especially his well-attended raptor shows at the Rio Grande Zoo and Wildlife West Nature Park where he shared his unbridled passion for birds of prey.
Tom ended his presentations with a quote from Baba Dioum: "We will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught."
Tom’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 4pm at the Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood, NM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Tom’s name to: Wildlife West Nature Park - Edgewood NM www.wildlifewest.org