CAMDEN — Thomas “Tom” Edward Stammen, 69, husband of Jo Ellen Stammen, passed away at his home on Saturday, January 6, 2024 after fighting a long illness.  

Tom was born on June 18, 1954 to Orville “Pete” and Lou Ann Stammen of St. Henry, Ohio. The family of nine siblings was close; Tom slept in one bedroom with four other brothers. His father, who started out as a professional baseball player for the Dodgers organization, instilled in the family a love of fishing and team sports, passions Tom carried forward into his own life. After graduating from the local high school, Tom studied education and business at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. 

In 1977, Tom met the love of his life, Jo Ellen, when he was a young teacher and coach in Wayland, New York. Jo Ellen was home from college and visiting her high school art teacher when she and Tom quite literally bumped into each other in the hallway. Papers went flying, the two nearly hit their heads bending down to clean up the mess and, as they say, the rest is history. 

Tom and Jo Ellen began their married life in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, growing their family with the birth of their daughter, Jessica. He worked as a salesman for McGraw-Hill Books and it was during his travels that he drove through the town of Camden for the first time. However, after just one year in New England Tom and his family moved to Ohio where he joined Stammen Insurance, his family’s quickly expanding business. Tom and Jo Ellen grew their family again with the birth of their sons, Greg and Tim. After seven years, the young family of five moved back to New England, this time to Camden.  

When their opportunity to buy the Camden Deli fell through, Tom returned to teaching and coaching and served in the local educational system for the next 22 years. During this time he completed his master’s in education administration. 

At Camden-Rockport High School and eventually Camden Hills Regional High School, Tom coached boys freshmen and JV basketball while also assisting at the varsity level. He oversaw the summer camps that countless local elementary and middle school-aged boys participated in. He was proud to contribute to a basketball program that began winning multiple state championships. He was on the bench with his sons when their teams won titles. Tom also coached boys varsity baseball for six years, revisiting one of his father’s passions. His strong Christian faith led him and his daughter to start the local high school chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

Tom and Jo Ellen’s dreams of owning and operating a business together on Main Street finally materialized when, in 2012, Tom dusted off his business skills and joined his wife as the manager of Jo Ellen Designs, a shopping destination in downtown Camden.  Always a book lover, Tom became the shop’s book-buyer and purveyor of “the men’s table”, giving husbands a little something to look at while their wives shopped. 

When he wasn’t working, Tom could be found fly fishing for brook trout or salmon with flies he usually hand-tied the night before. Grand Lake Stream and the Magalloway River were his favorite waters in Maine. He also loved traveling to Montana to fish and hike in Glacier National Park on multi-day wilderness trips with his sons and brothers.

Tom will always be remembered for his broad smile and booming laugh. He set an example by always standing strong for what he believed. As a coach he taught us to play the game with all our hearts right up to the buzzer, no matter the odds. He was a strong and faithful husband, father, brother and teacher.

Tom is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jo Ellen (McAllister) Stammen, of Camden; his daughter, Jessica Ives and her husband Jonathan, of Camden; two sons, Gregory Stammen and his wife Rebecca, of Rosamond, Calif., and Timothy Stammen of Nashville, Tenn.; his eight siblings, Shirley Luttmer of Wilmington, North Carolina, Dave Stammen of St. Henry, Ohio, Charles “Chuck” Stammen of Celina, Ohio, William “Bill” Stammen of Celina, Ohio, Patricia “Pat” Selhorst of St. Henry, Ohio, Mark Stammen of St. Henry, Ohio, Carolyn Dammeyer of Celina, Ohio, and Robert “Bob” Stammen of St. Henry, Ohio; as well as many and much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Calling hours with Tom’s family will be held on Wednesday, January 17, from 4 - 6 p.m., at Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street in Camden.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Thursday, January 18, at 11 a.m., at The Anchor Church, 3 Cross Street in Rockport.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the O’Donnells, a family whose father is battling the same illness as Tom, but with three young children and a wife working part-time.

Even though the family is not associated with the Anchor Church, checks should be made payable to: The Anchor Church, 3 Cross Street, Rockport. Or you can visit theanchor.me/give and donate online using the drop down menu to select “give to special offering.” Make sure to note “For The O’Donnells” on the memo line of your check or when prompted online to ensure the family receives 100% of your donation. 

Condolence may be shared at longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden.