Thomas O. Talbot

Thomas Oldfield Talbot, 71, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 30, 2024, with his loving family by his side. Born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Tom was a man of boundless energy and curiosity who found immense joy in gardening, traveling, and building. A passionate nature enthusiast, he enjoyed tending his property in Knox, NY, where he created beautiful gardens, renovated cabins, cultivated a vegetable garden, and planted many trees. He relished taking on large projects, finding satisfaction in hard work and the challenges they presented.

Tom was an avid outdoorsman, spending his time fishing, hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. He often fished for bluefish and striped bass on Fishers Island NY and enjoyed memorable adventures like hiking the Camino de Compostela through France and completing an expedition up Mont Blanc in the French Alps.

In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, Annie, visiting their home in Chaillol, France, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren who lovingly called him TT. Tom could often be found taking daily walks through Altamont and bringing his grandchildren to visit the Altamont Free Library. Always eager to strike up a conversation, Tom enjoyed keeping up with local happenings, especially within the community.

A lifelong learner, Tom graduated from the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut, and earned his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Vermont. After graduating he volunteered for the Peace Corps in Cameroon, West Africa, Where he met his loving wife Anne-Marie Pellegrin who was volunteering as a nurse for L'association Française des Volontaires du Progrès. The two went on to share a fulfilling 45-year marriage. Returning to the U.S., he pursued a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Together, Tom and Anne-Marie started a family and returned to Cameroon for 4 years, where he contributed to several major studies with Tulane University, specializing in parasitic diseases.

The Talbot family eventually settled in Altamont, NY, where Tom began his career as an epidemiologist with the New York State Department of Health. He was a dedicated and accomplished professional, contributing to impactful research, publishing extensively, and serving as an adjunct professor at SUNY Albany.

Tom is survived by his devoted wife, Anne-Marie Pellegrin Talbot, and their two children: Stephanie France (her husband Daniel France) and Nicolas Talbot (his wife Katrina Talbot). He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren, Madeline France, Chelsea France, and Sophie Talbot, as well as his siblings, Jane Marshall and Bruce Talbot, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Tom was predeceased by his brother, Robert (Toby) Talbot.

The Talbot family extends heartfelt gratitude to the Altamont Fire Department for their lifesaving service and to the caregivers at Albany Medical Center and St. Peter's Hospital for their compassionate care during Tom's final days.

Family and friends are invited and may visit with Tom's family from 4pm until 7pm in the Fredendall Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, Altamont on Friday December 6th. A celebration of Tom's life will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's memory may be made to the Altamont Free Library or the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy.