Thomas N. Soffron

Thomas N. Soffron (December 10, 1907 – February 21, 2004) was the clam digger and restaurateur who created the fried clam strip. cite news |title = Thomas Soffron, 96, Creator of Clam Strips |url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE0DD1E3CF93BA15751C0A9629C8B63| format = | work = | publisher = New York Times |date = 2004-02-28 | accessdate = 2007-10-23 | quote =Thomas Soffron, a clam digger and entrepreneur who created clam strips, which brought low-priced fried clams to restaurants nationwide, died here last Saturday, The Boston Globe reported. He was 96. ] cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Clam King. |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2004/05/01/370018/index.htm |quote=Like many famous Greeks, and not a few New Englanders, Thomas Soffron found his fortune at sea. An immigrant from Calamata, Greece, Soffron invented clam strips: battered and fried slices from the "foot" of hard-shelled sea clams (which held up better when frozen than did the coastal variety). For years Soffron Brothers Clam Co., based in Ipswich, Mass., served as the exclusive supplier of clam strips to the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain, which sold the whole country on this Down East delicacy. Few HoJo's are left, but the clam strip's enduring popularity stands as its creator's legacy. Soffron died on February 21 at age 96 in Ipswich, his hometown. |publisher=CNN |date= |accessdate=2007-12-15 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Thomas N. Soffron |url= |quote=Of Ipswich, 96, Feb. 21. Beloved husband of Sophia (Economos) and loving father of Nicholas Soffron, PhD. of Ipswich, Thomas Soffron of Exeter, NH. |publisher=Boston Globe |date= |accessdate=2007-12-15 ]

He was an immigrant from Greece with his three brothers and a sister: Virginia Soffron, George N. Soffron (1907–1990), Stephen N. Soffron (1919–1995) and Peter Soffron (1913–1984). [Social Security Death Index] Together they owned the Soffron Brothers Clam Company in Ipswich, Massachusetts, which started in 1938. They arranged an exclusive deal to provide their clam strips to the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain which were sold under the tradename "Tender-sweet Fried Clams". There is an anecdote that "Soffron was a picky eater and did not care for the clam’s belly. He only ate the strip from the large clam, which he could sanitize." [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Vacation on a plate. Can’t get to the beach? Get that lobster roll without leaving town |url=http://www.hippopress.com/060727/food.html |quote= |publisher=Hippo Press |date= |accessdate=2007-12-15 ] In 1961 they were charged with tax evasion.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Soffron vs. IRS |url= |quote= George N. Soffron, Peter Soffron, Stephen N. Soffron, and Thomas Soffron, hereinafter referred to as petitioners, are brothers who from 1938 to June 30, ... |publisher=IRS |date= |accessdate=2007-12-15 ]

He was married to Sophia Economis.

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