Thomas “Tom” Bateman Slocum, Jr., 75, longtime Branford resident and most recently of Hobe Sound, Florida, passed away at Yale New Haven Hospital on Oct. 31 . Tom was born on May 3, 1947, son of the late Thomas Bateman Slocum and Jean (Brickwood) Slocum.

Tom was a 1966 graduate of the Trinity Pawling School. Tom then went on to graduate from Nasson College in 1970. Tom also proudly served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1970 to 1976. Following graduation and prior to retirement, Tom was the owner/president of Slocum and Sons, a wine and spirit distributor based in North Haven. During his career, Tom built Slocum and Sons into one of the most well-respected wine companies in the country and was well-known worldwide. Tom was also a board member of the Easter Seals of CT for many years.

Tom was the loving husband of Myra (Jadrich) Slocum; father of Thomas “Toby” Slocum III of Cheshire, John Slocum and his wife Paige of Guilford, and Joshua Slocum and his wife Tina of Cheshire. Tom was also the proud grandfather of Jake, Aidan, Joshua Jr., and Teagan Slocum.

Tom was a giant of a man with a true heart of gold. Tom was a collector of nautical art, enjoyed watching football, and always wondered what was for dinner. Most of all, Tom truly loved the time he spent with his family and friends.

A private service will be held for Tom at the Stony Creek Congregational Church, Branford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Tom’s honor to Easter Seals of CT, 100 Deerfield Road, Windsor, CT 06095; https://www.easterseals.com/hartford; Gavin and Friends, SARAH Foundation, 246 Goose Lane, Suite 104, Guilford, CT 06437, https://sarahfoundation.org/gavinandfriends; Salvation Army, 450 George Street, New Haven, CT 06534, https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn; or an organization of your choosing. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.