Thomas Richard Szydlo, b June 14, 1953; d August 24, 2024.

Tom Szydlo - athlete, teacher, coach, and the best of husbands - lost his brief but valiant fight with esophageal cancer at the age of 71.

Tom was born in Dunkirk but grew up on a dairy farm on Arkwright Hill. He was educated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Forestville High School, West Point Military Academy, SUNY Fredonia, and Canisius College. He abandoned an early desire to become a doctor in favor of teaching and spent 36 years teaching Biology and Life Science at Maple Grove High School in Bemus Point, NY. His students were a constant source of pride. Whether they went on to do great things or whether they just managed to graduate, he loved them all. His was equally proud of his student athletes. Tom coached at many levels and many sports, but probably enjoyed his golf coaching days best. Upon hearing he was terminally ill, his first words were, "But I just learned to hit my driver!"

Tom is survived by his wife Merle, and his immediate family: brother Jack (Sue, recently deceased) Szydlo, and their two children (and their families) John (Nicole) Szydlo and Mike (Marissa) Szydlo; sister Sharon Domst (Bill) and their daughter Lori and her family; and brother David (Mary) Szydlo and their children Tim and his family, and Kelly, his goddaughter, with whom he shared a special relationship. A shout out to the Forestville Class of '71 who reached out from their class reunion. Things happened so fast he just didn't have time to contact all the people he wanted (I'm sorry Jimmy), but if you were a part of his life, you knew you were loved.

Tom was a very private person, and at his request, there will be no service. Tom loved cats, and he joins in the afterlife all our former whiskers. If you wish to honor his memory, please consider a donation to the Chautauqua County Humane Society