Nathaniel (Tom) Oddy
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 5, 2020Born: September 18, 1925
Died: March 2, 2020
Married: Patricia Ann Duffy on July 5, 1952
Children: Thomas Jr., Margaret (Peg), Patrick, Michael (deceased 1972), Kevin, Mary, and Dennis
Nathaniel Oddy was a World War II veteran.
Wounded by a German Grenade on November 22, 1944 while protecting the town of Bitche, France from German occupation on Thanksgiving Day. He had just turned 19 years old. Some German medics found him in a foxhole after two days in the freezing snow, and saw a picture of his sister and her children, in his wallet. They thought it was his family and had pity on him. They patched him up and threw him back in the foxhole.
N.T. Oddy memorial
St. Bernard's Cemetery
While in a Army Medial hospital in France his floor was strafed by a German pilot that was attacking the hospital's generator. The pilot strafed too low, hit some power lines and crashed into a red cross ambulance full of nurses heading into the local town for a night out. He narrowly escaped a second injury during that attack.
Nathaniel Oddy's picture appeared in Stars and Stripes two weeks before being wounded marching down a road in the Black Forest in France. The picture also was commemorated into a painting for The Story of the Century, a history of the 100th Divison of the Army. He recieved a purple heart for his wounds and still bears shrapnel in his eye and behind his ear from that wound.
He married Patricia Ann Duffy on July 5, 1952 and had seven children: Thomas Jr., Margaret (Peg), Patrick, Michael (deceased 1972), Kevin, Mary, and Dennis. The family lived at 189 Broadway.
He started a company called Upstate Vending Company with his partner, Jack La Hart of Lake Placid and went on to purchase Huntington Novelty Company of Saranac Lake. He retired at the age of 50 after selling out his share to his partner.
Source: Adirondack Daily Enterprise, July 4, 2012, "N. Thomas and Patricia Oddy"
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 5, 2020
Nathaniel (Tom) Oddy
Nathaniel (Tom) Oddy, age 94, of Saranac Lake, died Monday, March 2, 2020 at Adirondack Medical Center. Born in Saranac Lake on Sept. 18, 1925, he was the son of Nathaniel Oddy and Anne MacLeod Oddy. Tom married Patricia A. Duffy on Saturday, July 5, 1952 in Saranac Lake. She predeceased him on May 7, 2014.
Tom joined the New York State National Guard just prior to World War II starting and was drafted into the Army and shipped over to France to push the German Army back to the Maginot Line in the summer of 1944. As a member of the 100th Division they liberated a town called Bitche’, France in the Vosage Mountains. His regiment, 398th was known as “The Sons of Bitche’ and the town has a memorial to the 100th Division to this day with that namesake. Tom suffered wounds during an ambush on Thanksgiving Day 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart.
After the war, Tom took his GI Bill and started Upstate Vending with his business partner Jack LaHart from Lake Placid. Together they grew the business and a later acquired Huntington Novelty in Saranac Lake from Duke Huntington who helped Jack and Tom get started in the vending business.
Tom, along with some doctors in the area, brought cable TV to Saranac lake by incorporating and set a signal antenna on Mt. Pisgah for reception.
He volunteered for the Lake Placid Junior Ski Jumpers as a Judge for their ski jumping meets. In retirement he collected sap and made maple syrup, tapping trees all over Saranac Lake to harvest.
Tom loved football and played for the Saranac Lake Redskins and that love of the game would stay with him as an avid fan and follower of the “GOAT” Tom Brady for his entire life. He loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed seeing his extended family grow and visit. He was an expert at throwing sarcasm at his caregivers and took the same from them, with a great sense of humor.
He is survived by two daughters Peg (Barry) Cantwell of Saranac Lake, Mary (Donn) Diefenbacher of Marcy, New York, four sons Thomas (Meg) Oddy of Grantham, New Hampshire, Patrick (Debbie) Oddy of Danville, New Hampshire, Kevin (Jennifer) Oddy of Saranac Lake, and Dennis (Christy) Oddy of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, 13 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one son, Michael James Oddy, and two grandchildren, Natalie Oddy, of Vermontville/Saranac Lake and Nate Oddy, Danville, New Hampshire.
He adopted two additional “children” from Tupper Lake late in life in 2014, Dave and Diane LaBlanc, and welcomed them to his family.
Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Friday, May 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. Burial will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery in Saranac Lake.
Friends wishing to remember Nathaniel T. Oddy may make memorial contributions to Saranac Lake Rescue Squad in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.
