Thomas Paul Bilbao, Sr.

Thomas Paul Bilbao, Sr., 82, of Maryville, peacefully passed away on December 21, 2020, at home after a long battle with cancer. Memorial services will be announced at a later date.
Thomas was born in Manhattan, NY on February 21, 1938 to Tomas and Pauline Bilbao. All of his life he felt a strong connection to his Chelsea neighborhood and was always drawn to NYC. He attended the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in which he played tight end for the Stuyvesant Peglegs. After graduating from high school, he won a football scholarship to Columbia College where he continued his football career alongside his life-long best friends, Ted Graske and the late George Spelios. They spent many years together suffering as they cheered for their beloved Columbia Lions, attending homecomings and reunions.
While at Columbia, Tom was also a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Ensign and eventually promoted to Lieutenant in the United States Navy while stationed in San Diego, CA. After leaving the Navy, Tom and his wife of almost 60 years, Kathleen Young Bilbao, moved back to New York where he began a career in banking. At that time, he completed his MBA from New York University and in 1975 was admitted into the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Tom’s hard work and ambition led him to work at the Connecticut Bank and Trust, Buffalo Savings Bank, Albany Savings Bank, and Westport Bank and Trust. He held positions ranging from Chief Operating Officer to President.

Thomas and his family lived primary in Connecticut, spending almost 25 years in Old Greenwich where he loved walking his favorite dog Zach around the neighborhood. In 2004, Tom and Kathleen retired and moved to Maryville, TN where they have enjoyed living in the mountains. They loved traveling and have visited all over the world including trips to Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents and son, Thomas, Jr. He is survived by his wife Kathleen; son Christopher Bilbao of Stamford, CT and his children, Mateo, Nico, and Nina; and daughter Kathy Walker, son-in-law John, and grandchildren Katie and Johnny of Maryville.

The family would like to thank the staff at Amedisys for their kind hospice care over the past months.