In Loving Memory Of Our Founder Thomas Holmgren
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved founder, Thomas Holmgren, just a couple of months shy of his 98th birthday. Mr. Holmgren entered the car business in 1954, working for Mallon Chevrolet. Fifty years ago, in the fall of 1973, he became one of the original Subaru retailers in New England. He opened his doors in Lisbon, Connecticut, with a two car showroom and only four employees, one being his wife and partner, Jennie. In 1976 he expanded to Central Avenue in downtown Norwich, moving to our current location in North Franklin Connecticut, in 1980. Tom was healthy enough to lead the overhaul and remodel of our eco-friendly, signature facility in 2016, which he was so proud of. Throughout Tom's many years as an employer, he gained the love and respect of so many who worked for him. He took a lot of pride in the store, and the people who worked for him. He loved being a Subaru dealer. He had an uncanny knack for remembering customers and the cars that they purchased decades ago. After selling cars over the last eight decades, his experience ranged from selling the iconic 55 Corvette, all the way to seeing the birth of the electric vehicle. It was an unprecedented time in the automobile business, that he got to take part in. As the owner of Holmgren Subaru, mentor, Grandfather, and our Dad, he will be sorely missed.
