LEWISTON – Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34, of Lewiston, was tragically killed on the evening of Oct. 25, 2023 while attempting to stop an armed shooter at Just-in-Time (Sparetime) Recreation in Lewiston. Many witnesses to the event described him as a hero and friends said it was characteristic for him to act quickly to defend others. His daughter Caroline’s mom described him as, “The exact person you’d want in an emergency. Any chance he could jump into action he did. What he did on the night of October 25 perfectly exemplifies his character at its core. Thomas lived to help others and lived to protect the people all around him. He will always be remembered for his heroic action that night.”

Tommy was born in Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Wash. He attended Oak Hill High School in Sabattus, and later joined the U.S. Army with duty in Northern Iraq. After his military service, Tommy was eventually drawn back to Maine to be near his extended family but most especially to be an active co-parent of his daughter Caroline.

Tommy marched to the beat of his own drum and often appeared very serious but deep down felt things very strongly and had a very big heart, always rooting for the underdog.

He was an avid New England sports fan, loving the Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins but also following a family tradition to root for the New York Football Giants.

Tommy began his position as manager of Just-in-Time Recreation in early 2023, a job that he took very seriously and where he quickly found a good fit for his skills and interests. He was credited as a hard worker and devoted to his job. He especially enjoyed the youth bowlers, always doing whatever he could to put a smile on their faces and make the best possible experience for them.

He loved his daughter Caroline more than anything in this world. She was his everything and his number one motivator in life. He was always striving to be his best for her. Tommy made sure that the time they spent together was filled with family events, activities, learning as much as possible and enjoying their cat, “Dark Winds.” 

In addition to Caroline, Tommy is survived by Caroline’s mother and his best friend, Dottie Quinn; his father and stepmother Timothy and Mary Anne Conrad of Manchester, Maine; his sister Jennifer Conrad of Peoria, Arizona; his Aunt Tiffiny Stewart of Lewiston, who considers him to be her third child; and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A period of visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 1, from 3 to 6 p.m., at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant Street, Augusta, ME 04330.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 4, at 1 p.m., at Community Baptist Church, 9 Main Street, Sabattus, Maine.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home. Condolences, stories, and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to a Go Fund Me page for Caroline https://gofund.me/b0c55620

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