Deacon Joseph Thomas Werle (Tom) (Burlington, Ct). Tom worked at the neighborhood Kroger grocery store for 5 years and went to the Cooper School of Art evenings for four years. Seeing that Kroger’s was a dead end Tom saved his money and sold his ‘57 Ford convertible and enrolled at Kent State University for a degree in Art. He stayed 5 ½ years and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts with majors in Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Drawing and minors in Art History and Speech graduating in 1968. Tom then attended the University of Maryland with a major in Printmaking, graduating in 1970 with a Masters of Fine Arts.

He obtained a part-time position at what was then Greater Hartford Community College. The following year he was given a full time position. During his tenure Tom developed 23 courses and three certificate programs and became Chairman of the Department, Gallery Director, and a Delegate to the State Community College Union. He also served on the accreditation team for his college and Tunxis Community College. Tom retired in 2003 with 33 years of service and the position of Full Professor.

While at college, he received six grants and two paid sabbaticals. Tom had six one-man exhibits in Connecticut and Massachusetts museums. The major exhibits were at George Walter Smith Museum, Springfield and the LymanAllyn Museum, New London. He also exhibited at the Cleveland Museum of Art three times and the New Britain Museum of American Art, CT. Tom also taught at two other Community Colleges. 

In 1976, Tom was accepted at St. Thomas Seminary and ordained a Roman Catholic Deacon on December 11, 1981.

In 1977 he did research on home building and drew plans for his solar home. With the help of two brothers-in-law and a brother, he built the 3008 sq. ft. house in 1978. In 1979 it was featured in the Harford Courant with a 1 ½ page article and two other years. It was also on the National Solar Energy Tour 5 years in a row.