Tom B. Olsen, 88

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Tom Blake Olsen, 88, of North Adams died on Monday, December 25, 2017, at his home.

He was born on July 22, 1929, in Ferguson, Iowa, a son of the late Thomas & Pearl (Blake) Olsen. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 with a BS in Technical Journalism; he studied Communications Theory at the graduate level at Temple University, in Philadelphia.   

Tom earned the rank of Sergeant  in the United States Marine Corps, serving 1951-52, during the Korean Conflict. His career included copywriting through senior management roles in advertising and marketing, for Business Week and Aviation Week magazines, and for N.W Ayer & Sons and others. He retired at 86, an adjunct instructor of English and News Writing at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for 17 years.

He was catcher, outfielder and shortstop for the Central Iowa (baseball) League in the late 1940s, and continued playing baseball throughout his working life, finally in the Over 60 Softball League in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Survivors include his wife, Dianne K. (Knapik) Olsen; his daughter Francesca Olsen; three sons, Eric Olsen, Thom Olsen and John Olsen; a granddaughter, Kali Olsen; and a sister, Alice (Olsen) Jones, 95, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Arrangements are under the direction of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals.