WAYLAND: Dr. Thomas Belote, 83, died on December 6, 2020, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from complications due to Covid-19.
He was born in San Angelo, Texas on January 10, 1937, the son of the late Horace Belote and Goldie Irene (Goulden) Belote.
Dr. Belote is survived by his wife of 46 years Barbara Charlotte (Hlib) Belote of Wayland, and his sons Thom Belote and his wife Anne of Chapel Hill, NC, and Alex Belote and his wife Paula of Plymouth, MA and daughter Mayra Belote of Shrewsbury, MA. He is also survived by 2 grandchildren.
Tom has been a resident of Wayland for the past 46 years and spent his formative years in Texas. He received his BA in Physics and Mathematics as well as his Masters and PhD in Nuclear Physics from Rice University . He began his career as a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, living in the Cambridge area before moving to Wayland and becoming an AP physics teacher at Wakefield Memorial High School, where he taught for 25 years. “Doc” Belote is remembered as a dedicated and innovative teacher.
He was a lover of nature and outdoor recreation, including fishing, birdwatching, and family camping trips to National Parks from A(cadia) to Z(ion). His plot at the Wayland Community Gardens produced an abundance of tomatoes, zucchini, and summer squash. He enjoyed canoeing, fishing, and nature watching at the family’s home in Wayland.
In retirement Tom enjoyed travels, including a camping trip with Alex to Big Bend National Park, a trip with Barbara to Alaska during which they ran into Alex in Anchorage, and a tour of the Galapagos Islands with Thom.
Tom is remembered as being loving and devoted to his family, a supportive father, a gentle and kind man, a brilliant scientist, a lover of animals, and a great teller of stories.
Both Dr. Belote and his wife Barbara have been active members of the Unitarian Universalist Area Church of Sherborn.
A private Memorial Service for the family will be on Saturday, January 9.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Mass Audubon Society, https://www.massaudubon.org/
Arrangements entrusted to the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland. For condolences please visit www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com.