Thomas M. Rasimas, 75, of Old Forge, a former resident of Duryea, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 11th at the Mountain View Care Facility, Scranton. Tom was born April 22, 1943 and was the son of late Anthony and Helen (Belavitz) Rasimas, of Moscow.
Tom attended Moscow Public Schools until the eighth grade and transferred to South Scranton Central Catholic High School where he excelled in sports, especially basketball, football, and baseball. Tom was especially proud to be a member of the basketball team, in his senior year helping them win the 1961 class 2 State Championship. He was also voted onto the Scrantonian 37th annual All Scholastic Football team in 1961.
Thomas was a member of the former SS Peter and Paul Church, Avoca where he served as a lector and a member of the choir. Tom was presently a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parish Church, Duryea and its choir. Tom enlisted into the US Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany where he was recruited to write news articles on servicemen which were submitted back to the states for publication to hometown newspapers. Tom was a former employee of the Scranton Tribune for 30 years. He started his career working in the composing room and later transferred to the advertising department. Tom retired from the Clarks Summit State Hospital as an aide. He was a member of the Dupont VFW post 4909 and a member of the Avoca American Legion.
Tom retired to enjoy his life as a grandpa. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren, teaching them all they needed to know about fishing and enjoying the sports he loved. He also enjoyed the many vacations he had with his family, traveling throughout the United States and Europe. They were all memories that he cherished. He and his wife would travel miles to watch a sporting event that their grandchild was participating in from elementary school to college.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Judith B. (Ryczak) Rasimas; two children, his daughter Michelle Kaneski and her husband Stephen of Springbrook Twp. and his son Mark and his wife Vivian of NY, NY.; grandchildren Matthew and Sarah Kaneski, and Lucas and Sophia Rasimas; as well as his sisters, Lillian Browne of Cape May, NJ., Dorothy Ezak of Georgia, and his brother Arthur of Newington, CT. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 15th at 9:00am from Kiesinger Funeral Services, Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea with a mass of Christian burial at 9:30am at Nativity of Our Lord Parish Church, Stephenson St., Duryea with Fr. John V. Polednak officiating. Friends may call on Friday evening, September 14th from 5-8pm.
Friends are asked to make donations of their choice in lieu of flowers.