Obituary of Thomas Harry Brace

Thomas H. Brace, age 76, passed away on February 8th, 2024 in Canandaigua, NY, two and a half years after beating Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). Tom was born in Mansfield, PA, a town he remembered fondly and returned to often to visit family, friends and enjoy the fall hunting season. He was the son of the late Kenneth and Mary (Michael) Brace, and a brother of John Michael Brace. Tom was a problem solver who could fix anything through hard work and persistence, loving a job well done. After graduating from Mansfield State University in Pennsylvania with a BA in Biology and meeting his future wife Mary, he patriotically served his country as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force stationed in Germany, Thailand, California, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. He made lifelong friends and saw the world with Mary. While in North Dakota, he earned a Masters in Business Administration (University of North Dakota) and in Oklahoma, his Masters in Engineering (University of Oklahoma). Tom left the Air Force and relocated with his family to Maryland, where he switched services to work for the Department of Defense (US Navy) as an Industrial Engineer for the next 25 years. He notably worked on the cockpit design of the F/A-18 fighter jet, working closely with colleagues at Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. He shared his expertise in math and science with his daughters, Katie and Liz, with whom he completed many award-winning science projects! Tom also shared his passion for sports with Katie and Liz, coaching them in softball from T-ball through their varsity high school teams. Tom and Mary loved visiting historical sites and shared that knowledge with their daughters on many family trips to National Parks, Civil War Battlegrounds, and museums, which his girls appreciate to this day. Tom enjoyed woodworking, wildlife, and nature and was able to enjoy these activities in retirement on his 10 acres in Canandaigua NY, along with his new hobby of growing grapes, making wine, giving his grandchildren rides on his tractor, and captaining his boat on Canandaigua Lake. He found joy in getting to know and laughing with his grandchildren, playing family kickball in his yard and attending his grandchildren's games. He and Mary found time for meaningful travel including a memorable family Thanksgiving trip to Ireland and a river cruise of Eastern Europe. Tom and Mary celebrated 50 years of marriage on March 17th 2023. He is survived by his wife of 50 years Mary, his sister Jean Smyth (Stan Martin) of Pinehurst NC, and his daughters Katie Niles (Tom) and Elizabeth Walsh (Johnny). He leaves four grandchildren James Thomas Niles, Mary Elise Niles, John Thomas Walsh III, and Christian Brace Walsh, as well as many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5-7pm on Tuesday, February 13th at Catricala Funeral Home at 1597 Route 9, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Funeral service will take place at 9am on Wednesday, February 14th at Shenendehowa United Methodist Church, followed immediately by burial at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, PLease make Donations to; Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org or Galisano Children's Hospital, www.urmcrochester.edu