Tom Ward

Tom Ward, a real estate developer who split his time between East Hampton, London, Austria, and Australia, died of a heart attack at home in Wootton, Australia, on Feb. 5. He was 75.

Mr. Ward was born on Nov. 29, 1940, in Liverpool, England, to Thomas Ward and the former Catherine Forde. In 1949, at the age of 9, his family came to New York and moved to an apartment in the Bronx, later building a small summer cottage at Maidstone Park in East Hampton. His fondness for East Hampton continued throughout his life, and he later returned every June and also over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Growing up, Mr. Ward attended St. Mary School and Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx and Iona College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Starting in his early 20s, from about 1960 to 1970, he frequented what was formerly Mitty’s General Store, a popular Southampton discotheque at the time. The original building burned down and it later relocated to the Hotel St. James, a large house in Water Mill that had been converted to a club. Mr. Ward first worked as a manager there and finally purchased the business.

From Memorial Day until Labor Day, Mitty’s played live music seven nights a week and offered free entry to anyone who worked at a local restaurant or bar, knowing they would in turn recommend it to vacationers in search of a good time. The Lovin’ Spoonful, Rat Race Choir, and Twisted Sister all played there.

At 30, Mr. Ward moved to London and worked for Geo. Joslin Estate Agents, a property management company, ultimately taking it over and building it into a successful company that he ran for more than 30 years.

In 1981, he married Annie Merrick, a native of Suffolk, England, in East Hampton. The couple spent their honeymoon in Montauk and returned to the British countryside, just outside of London, where they raised their four children.

Full of life, Mr. Ward loved to laugh and joke and was passionate about motorbikes and classic cars, Porsches and Formula One in particular, his family said. In his spare time, he took great pleasure in reading history, appreciating nature, and looking at stars. His son Marcus Ward said that his father loved a bargain in any form, routinely perusing local yard sales in search of a deal. Five hours ahead in London, he would read The Star online and send his sister, Alicia Ward, who lives in East Hampton, his pick of each weekend’s best yard sales.

In late September of 2005, he married Daphne Talevi-Ward at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London. They spent many years traveling and sharing good food and wine with family and friends around the world, his family recalled.

Mr. Ward is survived Ms.Talevi-Ward of London and his four children: Olivia Porter of West Sussex, England, Elisabeth Crocker of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Ward of Brooklyn, and Patrick Ward of London. His sister, Alicia Ward of East Hampton, also survives, as do two grandchildren and one niece.

On June 5, Mr. Ward’s family will scatter his ashes at Maidstone Park Beach in East Hampton. A meal and celebration will follow at the house of his sister and Ben Porter. Marcus Ward has asked to be contacted should anyone like to attend: [email protected].