Thomas G. Eldred

Thomas Gilbert Eldred, 92 of Union Springs, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2025 at the Auburn Community Hospital. He was born on January 16, 1933 in Rochester, NY to the late Millard Frederick and Helen Anna Jenne Eldred. Tom earned is BA degree at SUNY Albany in 1954, Masters degree at Syracuse University in 1965 as certified Social Studies teacher.  He also attended University of Cambridge, Southern University and A&M College.

Tom was a well respected and inspirational social studies teacher in the Union Springs School district from 1954 to 1992. He was a mentor to many students always sharing his knowledge and a joke or two.  Tom was the boy's golf coach which included the championship golf team of 1982. He was a class advisor in addition to advisor for the Yorkers Club, Model UN, Model Congress and Student Government. He organized many trips and activities for his students.  He was a frequent speaker at commencements.  Tom was very involved in the Boy Scouts as a scout master and troop leader.  He shared his love of baseball as a little league coach.

Along with teaching, he was the Cayuga County historian from 1974 to 2001, a 4 term state president of the County Historian Association and founder of the Frontenac Historical Society in Union Springs in 1975. Tom received many awards as well. He earned the Valley Forge Classroom Teachers medal, Clinton award for community service, the Outstanding Teacher of American History in 1982 named the Outstanding Secondary Educators of America in 1974. Tom was also a member of the American Association for State and Local History, National Country for Social Studies, National Railway Historical Society, New York State United Teachers, New York State Historical Association, member of the USCS Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2013.  

He is survived by cousins, close friends, and community members of Union Springs and Auburn.

In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his brother James Stephen Eldred and sister Maryann Olsen.

There will be an open visitation from 3 PM to 6 PM with no receiving line because the community was his family, on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Brew Funeral Home, 48 South Street, Auburn. A funeral service will be held at 11AM on Friday, October 10, 2025 at the Episcopal Church of Sts. Peter and John, 169 Genesee Street, Auburn with a committal service to follow at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Union Springs.

Contributions may be made to Union Springs Fire Department, P.O. Box 72, Union Springs, NY 13160 or to the Episcopal Church of Sts. Peter and John, 169 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021 in memory of Thomas Gilbert Eldred.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas G. Eldred, please visit our floral store.