Obituary of Thomas W. Jaeger

Thomas W. Jaeger passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Ashburn, VA at the age of 80. Tom was born on July 28, 1943, in Hackensack, NJ to Morris and Adeline Jaeger. He spent much of his childhood in Middletown Springs, VT, before moving back to Oradell, NJ where he graduated from River Dell High School in 1961. In the same year that Tom graduated from Rutgers University, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Helen, on a hot August day in 1965.

Tom is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen (Calogrides) Jaeger, daughter Christiana Jaeger and her husband Timur Tunador, granddaughter Yasmin Tunador and her husband Nicholas Schamens, grandson Joseph Tunador, great-granddaughter Charlotte Schamens, sister Doreen Thomas, sister-in-law Nancy Jaeger, and by many much-loved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and their families. He was predeceased by his beloved son Thomas M. Jaeger, grandson Noah Tunador, and brother Stanton (Yogi) Jaeger.   

Upon graduation from Rutgers University where he was a member of their ROTC program, Tom served in the U.S. Army for 3 years, finishing in 1968 as a Captain in the 2^nd Armored Calvary in West Germany. Tom and Helen, along with their new baby daughter, returned to NJ where he began his long and accomplished career as a Fire Protection Engineer, PE. He worked for Gage Babcock & Associates for over 30 years, retiring as CEO of the company. Upon retirement, Tom continued working as a consultant and was a tireless advocate for vulnerable populations, including as an advisor to the American Health Care Association on fire safety in nursing homes and working with the ACLU as both a consultant and expert witness on fire safety in numerous prison systems. Tom was a lifetime member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), serving on the Board of Directors for 20 years and as Chair of the Board in 2010-11. During his tenure with the NFPA he also served on numerous code-writing committees and received the prestigious Standard’s Medal in 1997. 

The time Tom spent as a child in Middletown Springs cemented his love for Vermont, and later in life he and Helen enjoyed many summers (and a few very cold weeks each winter) in the renovated family home that was his happy place. Tom was passionate about his yard and gardens in Vermont; there wasn’t a weed he couldn’t find nor a squirrel he wouldn’t do battle with should they attempt to raid the birdfeeders. Tom loved the Vermont outdoors; going for hikes and long walks, swimming in local water holes, playing golf, skiing in the winter, enjoying the beautiful views and sunsets, and hosting family and friends. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 30, from 4pm to 6pm at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden Street, Herndon, VA. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30am on Friday, December 1^st at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 750 Peachtree Street, Herndon, VA 20170. A private burial will be held at a later date in Middletown Springs, VT.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Northern Virginia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), at https://nami-northernvirginia.org/get-involved/donate/ or to NAMI Northern Virginia, PO Box 480, Oakton, VA 22124.