QUEENSBURY --- Thomas P. Mueller, 86, passed away unexpectedly at home on June 12, 2026, with loved ones by his side.

 A celebration of life memorial service will be held on July 30, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., with a Masonic funeral at 12 p.m. at Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804. A graveside ceremony with military honors will follow at 2 p.m. at Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery. 

Born January 14, 1940, in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Robert H. and Henrietta (Schaefer) Mueller, Thomas graduated from Levittown Memorial High School on L.I. in 1958 and auditioned for the U.S. Army as a trumpet player, serving in the 1st Army Band in South Korea, Japan and Governor’s Island (NYC) from 1959-1962. After discharge, he began a 30-year career as an airland-and-sea expediter, working for freight-forwarding companies and steamship lines in NYC until his 1995 retirement from Randy International in Port Elizabeth, NJ. After marrying “his Bronx bride” Susie in 1969, the couple lived on Pelham Parkway from 1970 until their upstate move to Queensbury in late 2022. 

A lifelong lover of all things music, Tommy’s career as a musician began at age 12 with a French horn. Switching to trumpet, the dream continued for 70+ years filled with military and NYC parades, concerts and conventions, holiday shows and festivals, dances and club dates; and ended just a few weeks before his passing. Known as “Tommy Trumpet” to his fellow musicians, he played trumpet with the Westchester Symphonic Winds, the Lehman College Community and Jazz Bands, the Queensborough College Symphonic Band, the Kismet Temple (L.I.) Shrine Band and the Freeport L.I. Fire Department Band. Fond memories of many Freeport jobs included upstate vacations to march in Lake George parades, visit friends on Upper Saranac Lake and go for trail rides at the Cold River Ranch. As a result, upon arriving here in 2022, he was especially pleased to join the Lake George Community Band as a year-round resident.

A former volunteer trumpeter with the Kismet Shrine Temple Band (L.I.), Thomas P. Mueller was initiated into Maspeth Lodge No. 1089, F. & A.M. (Queens, NY) on March 1, 1974, and raised as a Master Mason on June 7, 1974. He was enrolled in Scottish Rite Freemasonry and joined Kismet Shrine in 1975. A newcomer to membership in Queensbury Lodge No. 121, Tommy was recognized for 50 years of loyal support and dedication to the Masonic Fraternity on June 4, 2024.

 In addition to his parents and stepfather, John Bertsch, Thomas was predeceased by his siblings, Robert Jr., Ronald, Mary and Joseph Mueller; and Jack and Herbert Bertsch. Greeting Tommy “the Cat Man” at the rainbow bridge will be his beloved kitties, Tiger and Werner, along with many others he and Susie rescued and homed throughout their life together. 

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Susan “Susie” (Greenberg) Mueller; sister, Margaret “Peggy” Rugen; numerous nieces and nephews who honor him as “Favorite Uncle”: Patti, Chuck and Barbara; Matthew and Katie; Keith (godson), Diane, Kevin and Catherine; Rob, Marybeth, Shelby, Jake and Kevin; Eric, Melinda, Katie and Matthew; Rob, Melissa, Robert, Giuliana and Jack; Tiffany, Mikey and Zayden; Norene, Brian, Brian Jr., Andy and Sean (godson); Patricia, Andrew, Katie and Maria. A 50-year Pelham Parkway resident, his 601 neighbors will miss Tommy’s sharp wit and friendly manner; his many caregivers at Einstein Hospital will long recall his remarkable ability for “bounce-back” recoveries throughout 40 years of health challenges. And his longtime Van Nest, Morris Park and Woodlawn buddies will remember “Tuba” for his “blowhard” capacity as a speaker as well as a brass-player. Above all, his extensive family and close friends throughout the country will often look back at the significant impact of Tommy’s legacy of love and laughter in their lives. 

Contributions in honor of Thomas P. Mueller may be made to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund @ nybrotherhoodfund.org; Shriners Children’s @ donate.shrinerschildrens.org; the American Heart Association @ heart.org; a no-kill animal rescue organization or any other charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent directly to Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.