Dr. Thomas J. Rainville

Dr. Thomas J. Rainville, age 87, of Bedford, NH passed away peacefully on December 26, 2022 at home surrounded by his beloved wife and family. 

Born in Jamaica, Queens (NY) on November 27th,1935 to Dr. Armand and Claire (Smith) Rainville, Tom was raised in St. Albans, New York where he met his wife of 61 years, Noel (Hecker) Rainville. He was a graduate of Saint Bonaventure University in Olean, NY and The State University of New York Medical School in Brooklyn.

Tom proudly served in the United States Army from 1961-1968 and was appointed as the Chief of Pediatrics at Fort Eustis Army Hospital in Newport News, VA and Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver, CO. His leadership was instrumental in the early implementation of Phenylketonuria (PKU) Screening, which became routine and is now used in hospitals worldwide. Dr. Rainville was a Vietnam Veteran who served as Commander of the 50th Clearing Company and the 47th Medical Battalion, reaching the rank of Major with several commendations including The Vietnam Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, and The Bronze Star Medal.

Dr. Rainville was a Board Certified Pediatrician who practiced medicine as a founding partner of Stamford Pediatrics (Connecticut), Attending Physician, and Assistant Chief of Pediatrics at Stamford Hospital. Dr. Rainville was a child and family centered physician for over 25 years. “Doc” was a diligent researcher and reader whose calm demeanor and sound medical counsel  impacted the lives of countless families within the community.

Family and faith were central in his life. Doc loved the outdoors. He was an avid gardener, cultivating vegetables that he would share with family and friends. A member of the Stamford Yacht Club, he enjoyed many years of playing tennis and paddle with his neighborhood friends. He loved spending summer days body surfing waves at Jones Beach and hiking and picnicking in Vermont with his family. In the winter he could be found shredding the slopes on Okemo Mountain, followed by a warm fire at his home there.

Tom was the proud father of five and “Papa Doc” to fourteen grandchildren. He was loved and cherished by many people including wife, Noel, their daughter Michelle and husband Chris Russell (Bedford, NH), and their children Stephanie, Christopher Jr., Brian, and Mae; son Tom Rainville Jr., (Bedford, NH), and his children Tommy III, and Brittany; son Paul S. Rainville and wife Mary (Marlborough, MA), their daughters Hailey, Caroline and Olivia; son Matthew and  wife Lesley (Ada, MI) their daughter Summer; and daughter Kristin N. Rainville and husband Joe DeSabia Jr. (Fairfield, CT) their children Joey, Dylan, Tyson and Callie.

There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, December 29 th at 9 am in St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Meetinghouse Road, Bedford. Burial with military honors will follow in the NH Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma

Society at Donate to The Leukemia &  Lymphoma Society (lls.org).