Thomas Wade Nissley, aged 92, passed away January 10, 2026 peacefully in his sleep at his home in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Tom Nissley
Born January 1, 1934 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Wilbur Herr Nissley and Mary Emily Nissley (Wade). In Lancaster Wilbur was a constable, and Mary a judge.
Known always as Tom, he lived an accomplished life beginning at an early age. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout (BSA) in his youth. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1955, while running a floral shop from his parents’ home. He had a love of plants for the rest of his life. Then he graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1958.
Tom had a multifaceted career over the following five decades. He was a pastor, a therapist, and a real estate agent. He was a participant in, critic of, and ultimately patron and philanthropist to the theater communities of Stamford, New Canaan, and Fairfield County, and throughout the region at large.
In his time, he was the Director of the United Way in Stamford, was elected to a term on the Board of Education, and was a member of the Stamford Coliseum Authority.
As a therapist, he focused on Transactional Analysis therapy. He was a member of the International Transactional Analysis Association, and was active in training and workshops for decades. He founded and presided over the Ridglea Institute in Stamford in 1975, providing a space and community for training workshops and group therapy meetings, as well as theatrical and artistic events and weddings.
As a realtor, he focused on the preservation and marketing of historical properties and gardens. He was awarded Realtor of the Year by the New Canaan Board of Realtors in 2008 for his efforts. He was active until the end with the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society.
In his later years Tom loved to travel, visiting far flung areas of the globe, taking and sharing pictures of birds and flowers he encountered there. He was active until the end of his life attending theater, church services and social events, and generally socializing and being involved with government and historical preservation efforts in the area.
He is survived by his two sons, Jonathan and Robert, who have been living in Oregon, and by his granddaughter Anika, in Connecticut. He is also survived by his close cousin John Wade Rindlaub and his wife Laurette, of Maine, and his sister-in-law Winnie Nissley, of Maryland, as well as their respective children and grandchildren. His brother Donald predeceased him by nearly two decades due to complications from his time as a Naval Officer in the Vietnam War. There are a host of second and third cousins.
Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan on Saturday January 17th, followed by internment near his parents in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania.
Tom was one of a kind and one of the best. He had a talent for drawing people of similar interests together into community – one of his many talents. He had a great sense of humor, and sense of history. A rare and great human being. We – the Chivvis family – will miss him, but we’re glad he had such a long and productive life.
I was so sad to hear of Tom’s passing. He loved to share information with members of the community about current theater productions throughout Fairfield County. He was a wonderful, kind and giving person – his warmth and optimistic nature was a constant. A true New Canaanite, Tom will be missed. Rest in peace.
Tom was a wonderful town supporter.
He appreciated and loved the theater and was an avid supporter. His positive personality and presence will certainly be missed.
I never knew him to have a negative thing to say. He was deliberate, but quiet, friendly and thoughtful. I will miss seeing him at the coffee gatherings, where he always promoted local live theater; brought a smile to my face. Rest in peace, friend.
I am one of the fortunate ones who had a relationship with Tom that went beyond the typical, casual conversation with a fellow community participant. He cared to know me more deeply. We became true friends and confidantes, and that was especially fulfilling. Thank you, Tom.
I met Tom about 20 years ago. I had the good fortune of being invited to go with him to various local theatre productions. He knew them all and was known by all there.
We shared an interest in gardens. He introduced me to the deliciousness of the giant puff ball mushrooms that would suddenly explode out of the lawn! Sliced and sautéed they taste like scrambled eggs. So every fall when I’d see one I’d let Tom know where. I shall miss that funny tradition as I will miss Tom and his always open, smiling face. I know that Tom is now exactly where he thought he would be, to that I say “Amen and goodbye”.
Tom was passionate about preservation, history, and the arts. He served on the board of Preservation Connecticut for many years. Always outspoken about preservation and the legacy it provides, enriching and safeguarding history. He saw obstacles to preservation not as barriers but as opportunities. Tom will be remembered as a passionate, influential, and generous person dedicated to inspiring conversation and opportunities in historic preservation and the arts. May he rest in peace.
Tom was a wealth of information about historic homes in New Canaan. He’d share his knowledge at many of our office meetings, always wearing his signature lanyard.
I always looked forward to reading Tom’s glowing reviews in the New Canaan Advertiser of New Canaan High’s many theater productions. They made you want to buy a ticket for the show!
Tom will be missed by many in our town.
Tom was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He enriched the community; a true loss to us. May his soul rest in peace.
I knew Tom from community coffees going back about 25 years. Often we sat together and chatted. When the coffees ended many of us “continued the conversation” into the parking lot of the New Canaan Historical Society.
Tom always shared glowing reviews of theater productions, especially New Canaan ones, at these coffees.
For those readers who were in New Canaan 10 years ago, below is a link to an article about the Nissley family’s effort to save a 1735 house from the wrecking ball:
https://newcanaanite.com/saved-new-canaan-couple-enters-contract-to-purchase-historic-ferris-hill-road-home-39440
Rest in Peace, Tom.
A true gentleman always a pleasure to see and be with- He never met a stranger and was a very kind present force!
I knew Tom as an advocate for Modern buildings in New Canaan and environs.
He was generous in sharing his knowledge and time showing those buildings to others, and in providing hospitality to out-of-town visitors (like me) for N.C. Modern events
Like so many others, I will miss him.
Thank you to all for the kind comments.