Mar 20, 2022

Thomas W. Best, 80, a longtime resident of Acton, Mass., passed away peacefully Sunday, March 13, 2022.

Survivors include his college sweetheart and beloved wife of 57 years, Nancy Arceci Best; their children, Amy Torres Best and husband Jimmy, Michael Best and wife Nicole; and three grandchildren. Also surviving are his three siblings, Margaret Ann Schrecengost, Judy Olwyn Best and Gary Best; and a sister-in-law, Dolores Arceci.

Mr. Best was born in Fredericktown, and earned his Eagle Scout. After high school in Peters Township, he attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He earned his M.S. in Civil Engineering at Iowa State University.

Mr. Best spent 21 years active duty in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and retired as a Major. He also was a veteran of the Vietnam War earning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He continued his career as a civilian with the Corp of Engineers and later worked as an environmental engineer at Hanscom Air Force Base.

Upon his retirement he pursued a passion for genealogy and was known as a genealogy angel helping adoptees and others find their birth families.

Mr. Best was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Dorothy Best.

Visiting hours are from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, in Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Avenue (Route 111), Acton, Mass. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, 89 Arlington Street, Acton. The Rite of Committal will follow at 2 p.m. in the Massachusetts Memorial Veterans’ Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, Mass.

Memorials are requested for Fisher House of Boston, P.O. Box 230, South Walpole, MA 02071, and the Acton Council on Aging, P.O. Box 2006, Acton, MA 01720.

A memorial page can be found at actonfuneralhome.com.