Thomas A. Poole, a well-known self-employed Baltimore carpenter who lent his woodworking expertise to such establishments as The Crease, Mount Washington Tavern and Bixby's, died Saturday from renal cancer at his Lutherville home. He was 66.
The son of Victor Harriman Poole, a civil engineer, and Virginia Brown Poole, a homemaker, Thomas Andrew Poole was born in Baltimore and raised in the Hampton neighborhood of Baltimore County.
After graduating in 1969 from Towson High School, he attended Towson University, the University of Baltimore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the Community College of Baltimore County Essex.
Mr. Poole began his carpentry career at age 18 when he went to work for Lance Cooper. He became a highly skilled trim carpenter and cabinetmaker.
"Examples of his work could be found at The Crease, Mount Washington Tavern, Bixby's, South Street Station and Peter's Pub, to name a few," said the former Nancy Dogherty, his wife of 34 years.
Mr. Poole was self-employed for 30 years, and for the last decade, worked with a partner, Joe Howard, his wife said. He was still working in August, she said.
Mr. Poole enjoyed fishing, playing basketball and pool. He was a Ravens and Baltimore Bullets fan.
A dog lover, he was fond of his Swiss mountain dog Zippy and English mastiffs, his wife said.
A memorial gathering will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Vollmer Center at the Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave., Mount Washington.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Poole is survived by three daughters, Lucy Poole and Sally Poole, both of San Francisco, and Madeline Poole of New York; a stepson, Jaime Sims of Lutherville; a stepdaughter, Hannah Sims of Original Northwood; a brother, Donald Poole of Charlotte, N.C.; a sister, Patricia Kelley of Sunset Beach, N.C.; and two granddaughters.