Notable Neighbor: Tom Archibald, volunteer extraordinaire

Tom Archibald, a dedicated City of Bloomington volunteer for more than 40 years, passed away in hospice care in late November at the age of 72. As a longtime Bloomington resident, Tom’s kind and selfless contributions left a lasting impact on the community.

Tom devoted his time to several Community Services programs, including the Creekside Senior Dining program, where he supported kitchen operations and the Fare for All program. He and his close friend Karen Fiedler maintained a welcoming library coffee area at Creekside. Tom also volunteered in early cablecasting for City Council meetings and participated in adaptive recreation programs.

Lorinda Pearson, a former City employee who worked closely with Tom, said, “Tom Archibald was a dedicated volunteer whose contributions enriched the city of Bloomington for more than 40 years. His reliability and genuine enjoyment helping others made him a cherished member of the community. He will be deeply missed.”

Despite physical and mental challenges, Tom lived independently and often walked up to two miles or took buses to volunteer. While his demeanor could appear gruff, those who knew him appreciated his compassionate nature. Amanda Crombie, a City employee, described him as having a “very good heart” and appreciated his thoughtful annual tradition of sending handwritten Christmas cards to those
he knew.

A celebration of life service was held at Creekside Community Center, a place Tom considered his home away from home. Tom’s legacy of kindness and service will be long remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing him.