Thomas Ross Cowling

December 21, 1958 - October 2, 2020

Albany-Thomas Ross Cowling was born December 21, 1958, in Lexington, KY, and passed away October 2, 2020 in Albany, NY. Tom grew up in Delmar NY and spent most of his life in the Albany, NY area. He is predeceased by his mother, Alison, and his father, Vincent. He is survived by siblings and in-laws: John and Haeran Cowling, Margaret Cowling, Charlie and Claudia Cowling, Janie and Bill Fauconneau, nephews Ross (Matt) and Owen Cowling, and step-mother Charlene Lewis. Tom was a gentle, thoughtful man with an impish sense of humour. He loved words and never met a pun he didn’t like. He enjoyed chatting with family and friends and was a voracious reader. Tom loved science fiction and fantasy stories such as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. He was also an avid reader of military history, especially the unusual and obscure. Tom was a keen player of board war games like the old Avalon Hill games and also role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. He also loved spicy foods, warm cookies and classical music. In his younger years he was an enthusiastic cyclist, making several cross country trips and also cycling throughout Great Britain, joking about waiting for the sheep to cross the road in Scotland to continue his journey. Tom was never one to complain and took what was given him with a calm equanimity. His last days were challenging, and he met those challenges bravely and head on. Our wish for Tom is best expressed in the words of Tolkien: "Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate, and though I oft have passed them by, a day will come at last when I shall take the hidden paths that run west of the moon, east of the sun.” "The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it…white shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.” Farewell, beloved brother! There is no service scheduled. Tom's cremains will be in the keeping of his family for future placement. If you would like to commemorate Tom's life we suggest a donation in his name to your local public library as a tribute to his lifelong love of books." -- Charlie Cowling Clarkson NY "Be what you seem to be; and seem to be what you really are." Brother James Whittaker, Shakers