Thomas (Tom) King Herget passed away on Tuesday, February 28th, 2017 after fighting a short, but fierce battle with cancer. He enjoyed life—from his family and many friends to his myriad business and real estate investments both past and present.  More than anything else he loved people and had wonderful relationships with close friends and business acquaintances near his previous home in the mountains of NH and his current residences in North Hampton, NH, Martha’s Vineyard, MA and Wailea Point, Maui.

Tom was born in 1943 and raised in the Berkeley Hills of California long before “the hills” were well known. His childhood home was the third house built on the hill and was sited to overlook San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.   He graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Chemistry, followed by an MBA from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in Chicago. He met the love of his life at Northwestern, Bonnie Joan Kitchen, aka, Makena Herget.

Married in 1969, the Hergets took a chance and exited from corporate life with Kaiser Chemicals in Oakland, CA and Cranford, NJ to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to raise a family. Tom and Makena took another risky move and bought a farmhouse dating from 1825 which had no electricity or running water and was sited on 110 acres.   Over 30 years, they raised three kids in Tamworth, NH where they enjoyed living on the gentleman’s farm raising animals, tending gardens and enjoying life surrounded by the lakes and mountains. Tom purchased Chick Lumber in North Conway, NH, later to become Chick Home Center, a premier home building and design center in the Northern NH, Portland and Coast of Maine regions. After 39 years, the business was sold in 2013 with plans for other entrepreneurial ventures and to get back to traveling more.

Tom and Makena were fortunate to have traveled extensively throughout the world and they loved to visit new and exotic places. Their adventures began on their honeymoon in Colombia

in 1969 spent on the Amazon and in Bogota. They visited 119 countries on every continent and looked forward to the next trip before returning from the last!

The past few years have proven to be very busy and exciting with the formation of Herget Development Company and Makena Herget Interiors.  They invested in a number of real estate projects all over the US, started a luxury vacation rental business and attended many meetups with likeminded friends from all over the world.

Tom is survived by his 103 year old mother Edith Herget of Walnut Creek, CA, his loving wife of 47 years Makena Bonnie Herget, and his three children, Amanda Serna and her husband Albert of Truckee CA, his son Brad and his wife Emily of Brighton, MA and his son Tanner of Portsmouth, NH. Tom also leaves behind three grandchildren who adore ‘Gramps’: Tavin (7), Damian (4) and Devon (3).

Tom’s amazing sense of humor, warm smile and hearty laugh will always be remembered by those that knew and loved him. In keeping with Tom’s love of a great party, the family will host a Celebration of Tom’s Life in July 2017 in North Hampton, NH for all friends and family who would like to join us in honoring Tom. Please visit www.TomHerget.com for additional information.

Tom spent his final days at Hyder Family Hospice House in Dover, NH which provided the utmost warmth and compassion.  Donations can be made in memory of Tom, payable to

“Friends of Hyder Family Hospice House”, 285 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820

 or online at: http://friendsofhyderfamilyhospicehouse.org/donate/

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