FALMOUTH- Thomas Francis “Tom” Shortill, Esq.
Thomas Francis “Tom” Shortill, of Falmouth, Maine, born January 7, 1950, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2026, following a long illness and related health complications. He was 76 years old.
Family was deeply important to Tom, and he often spoke about how his family, and his childhood shaped his deep roots in, and lifelong love for, Maine.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph H. and Mary E. (Delaney) Shortill, and by beloved aunts and uncles from “the Farm”: Ruth Shortill, Zita Shortill, Frances Hadlock, James “Uncle Jimmy” Shortill, and Fr. John Shortill.
Tom is survived by his brothers, James Shortill of Venice, Florida; Joseph Shortill of Falmouth, Maine; and John Shortill (Marilyn) of Bar Mills, Maine; his (step)daughter, Arianne Seymour (Paul); and his six grandchildren: Scott Hubert (Emely), James Hubert (Storme), Jade Freeman (Scott), Steven Hubert (Breann), Matthew Gagne, and Ruby Gagne.
He is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren: Elliott, Kenzie, Hayden, Nolan, Helena, Easton, Serenity, Deklin, Quinnie, Brodi, Maci, Dallas, Addison, and Carson.
Tom’s nieces and nephews are Ellen Shortill, James Shortill (Susan), Michael Shortill, who predeceased him, Karen Lyons (Patrick), Ryan Shortill, Laura Curtis (Paul), Allegra Cacace-Shortill (Brittney), Andrew Shortill (Aimee), and Sarah Campbell (Rick); and his 15 great-nieces and great-nephews: Lily, Aiden, Parker, John, Leo, Michael, Delaney, Luke, Owen, Calliope, Jasper, Polly, Mary, Emma, Abby, Maren, and Ruth.
A Portland Native — and Always a Mainer
Born and raised in Portland, Tom graduated from Deering High School and continued his education at the University of Maine in Orono. He later earned his J.D. as a member of the first graduating class of Franklin Pierce Law Center, now the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.
While in high school, Tom was an active participant in numerous academic and social clubs. It was also there that he was introduced to one of his lifelong passions: chess.
He competed for many years, earning numerous championships, and remained an avid player throughout his life. He continued to play with various Portland-area chess groups well into his 70s. If you knew Tom well, there is a very good chance he tried to persuade you to learn chess—or challenged you to a game if you already knew how to play.
A Life in the Law
After earning his law degree, Tom practiced independently before joining his brother John to form Shortill & Shortill, P.A. Their brother Joseph, who later became a federal Social Security Administration administrative law judge, subsequently joined the practice.
Tom practiced law for more than 30 years in Sanford and was well known throughout Maine’s legal community. He was a member of the Maine and Massachusetts bar associations and numerous professional organizations, including the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.
Tom believed in continuing to learn throughout his career and regularly pursued additional qualifications and admissions. His professional accomplishments included admission to practice before the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He was especially proud of his admission to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.
A Maine Sportsman
Tom was a true Maine sportsman. His love of hunting and fishing was instilled in him early by his Uncle Jimmy, and over the years it took him across the state and brought him into friendships with people from many corners of Maine life—from bird hunters and ice fishermen to lifelong lobstermen.
He also collected artwork by Maine artists that celebrated the landscapes, wildlife, traditions, and outdoor life he loved.
Maui, Maine, and Almost Anywhere Else
As much as Tom loved Maine, travel was one of the great passions of his life.
There is little chance that anyone who knew him personally was unaware of his deep love for Hawaii, and Maui in particular. He traveled there as often as he could—on his own, with friends, and often by generously treating loved ones to trips with him or giving trips as gifts to celebrate special occasions.
He visited so often that what began as a favorite destination became another community, filled with people who became trusted friends.
Hawaii may have held the top spot, but Tom traveled all over the world. His lifelong childhood friend Bob LeClerc recalled the time the two of them ended up in England, essentially on a whim and with a day’s notice, for a weekend trip to see a play. Costa Rica was another favorite destination that drew Tom back more than once.
That was Tom. An idea could become an adventure very quickly.
“Old Orchard Day with Tom”
Among the memories shared by Tom’s nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, one tradition came up again and again: Old Orchard Day with Tom.
It was his signature day of spoiling a child completely—unlimited rides, plenty of bad-for-you food, and the wonderful feeling that, for that day, you were the luckiest and most important person in the world.
Years later, an extraordinary number of those children remembered their Old Orchard Days in remarkably similar detail.
The rides mattered. The junk food certainly helped. But what they remembered most was how Tom made them feel.
Tom made a lot of people feel like a lucky, extra-special person.
Thank you Tom.
One Life, Many Worlds
Though it was one life, Tom seemed to live many different lives, with an incredibly varied collection of friends, interests, adventures, and connections. Some of those worlds overlapped. Others were circles entirely his own.
He will be missed across all of them.
There will certainly be stories - stories told with love and admiration, stories accompanied by loud laughter, stories of adventures, and most likely a few stories that will remain in confidence, held closely by those lucky enough to have shared them with him.
We invite you to share your favorite memory or story of Tom here. Taken together, those stories will help tell the fuller story of a life that touched a remarkable number of people.
Celebration of Life
A Celebration of Life is being planned, but arrangements have not yet been finalized. Please check back here for details as they become available.
A private burial will take place in the Shortill family plot at Calvary Cemetery in early autumn.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Tom’s memory might consider making a contribution to an organization of their choice that supports youth chess programs, protects Maine’s natural resources, or provides pro bono legal services to the people of Maine.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com