Tom HATCH

Tom Hatch

Tom's 2011 Autobiography

I returned to Westport for Senior Year having left in 9th grade when my father was transferred to L.A. I knew many of the students from having lived in Westport all my life prior to departure so it was nice to return.

After graduation I went off to UConn. Later the Army called and I joined the National Guard. While in the Guards I was working in Norwalk at the Aqua Cat Sailboat factory building boats and sailing. Lived at Old Mill Beach in a house with Jay Crane on Hillspoint Road . Became Plant Mgr and was moved to Charleston SC to start a factory there in 1970.

I had enough of breathing fiberglass and fumes so I left and I moved north and helped start Backyard Boats, a retail sailboat dealership on the Potomac River in Alexandria, VA in 1972. In the early days it was slow in the winter so for 3 years I traveled out to Alta, Utah near Salt Lake and worked in a ski lodge, skiing every day during the season, then back in the spring for the Boat Business. After 3 years it got quite busy, the business expanded, took on power boats and ended up with 3 locations.

I got burned out after 28 years and in yr 2000 left and worked on my own as a rep for Visa/ Mastercard setting up businesses to accept credit cards, which I am still doing.

Married to Naomi 29 years, one son, Eric, 24, degree in Geology but working in Vail, CO for the last 2 years in ski shop and skiing every day, following in his old man's ski boots.

Second Home in Albuquerque, NM where we will eventually retire.

Tom’s Update (2021)

Attended UConn

Served in Army National Guard 1963-1970

Moved to Charleston, SC, returned to Conn after one year 1971

Moved To Virginia 1972

Co-Owner Backyard Boats, Alexandria Va, sailboat and powerboat sales.

Spent first 3 winters of the Boat Business as a bartender in Alta Utah (ski bum) 1972-1974

Retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico (PS. It's not NEW, and it's not MEXICO)

Wife: Naomi

Son: Eric, age 33, married to Annie

Granddaughter: Stella, age 5 of Naples FL