Thomas Edward Sardella

Thomas Edward Sardella was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on 4 May 1957, the fourth of seven sons of Clara Rodrigues Teixeira and Salvatore Joseph Sardella. He passed away suddenly on 17 March 2023 at his home in Walland, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one of his brothers, Robert (Rocky) Allen Sardella. He is survived by his wife, Bellrobin Anita Nethken Sardella and his three children, Angela Anita Sardella, Steven Harley Sardella, and Robert Alva Sardella. His brothers Donald Joseph Sardella, with wife Iris Walker of Concord CA , Paul Francis Sardella of Phoenix AZ, James Byron Sardella, and Phillip Matthew Sardella, both of Whitehall PA and Norman Richard Sardella with wife Maura McCarthy Sardella of Billerica MA also survive him.

He was educated in the public schools of Lynn, MA and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Worchester Polytechnic Institute in 1980. He also obtained a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1989

Beginning in 1980 he worked at Goddard Space Flight Center, where he earned the Silver Snoopy Award in 1989 for contributions to the Space Shuttle program.

Tom was a scientist and engineer, but he had the soul of an artist. He played the flute and classical guitar. He enjoyed most genres of music and shared this love with his children. As he neared retirement, he developed a deep love and a keen talent for nature photography. He loved waterfalls, meadows, sunsets, sunrises, night skies; flowers, birds, and all kinds of wildlife; especially bears.

He married Bellrobin on 8 January 1982, in Kensington, Maryland. He had a burning drive to improve the world around him in any way he could: his own life by pursuing advanced education and being an excellent financial manager; the lives of his wife and children by consistent and continuing efforts to be a good husband and father; his community by serving as a Scout Master; and the lives of his friends and neighbors by his eagerness to help and his willingness to share knowledge, sometimes as a student and sometimes as a teacher. That continued after death, as he was also an organ donor.

He will be deeply missed.

You are invited to share the personal memory of Tom or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Athens and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.