Thomas Robert Parry

Thomas Robert Parry, 91, peacefully passed away February 8, 2017, surrounded by his family in Hillsborough, NJ. His wife of 60 years, Helen Parry, and his granddaughter, Becca Laffoon, predeceased him. Surviving are his 4 children and families: Michelle (Chris), Rebecca, Thomas, Jr. (Debra), Sean (Rebecca), and his grandchildren: Lauren, Christopher, Benjamin, Emanuel, Anne, Christine, Alyse, Sandy, Tom III, Michael, Ian, and Anna; and great granddaughter, Charlotte. Tom (Bob) was born in Jermyn, PA where as a boy he hauled ice and coal for his father's business in the Scranton, PA area. His mother moved the family to Michigan where he left school at 15 to work in the auto factories. He joined the Navy during WWII and served as a radioman in the pacific Fleet. After the war he returned to MI, got his GED, and went on to become a policeman for the city of Detroit, where among other duties, he promoted their safety program. He went to night school and completed his bachelor's degree at Detroit Institute of Technology and was a high school teacher in Ferndale, Michigan School District while also coaching and refereeing basketball, golf and football and teaching driver's ed. In 1996 he relocated his family to Pittsburgh, PA when he became the president of the Western Pennsylvania Safety Council until his retirement. He moved to be with his daughters in NJ following the death of his wife (2010). He was a member of Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church of Wall, PA and the Level Green Lions. His greatest joys were playing golf on the courses of western PA, his dogs, vacationing and fishing on Hatteras Island, and enjoying his home with his wife and family in his beloved Level Green, PA. We will miss his sense of humor and his unfailing independent spirit that remained to the very end. A memorial service inviting all friends and family will be held Saturday April 1, 2017 at 12 Noon at Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church, Wall, PA, followed by interment with his wife's cremains at Penn Lincoln Cemetery. A memorial luncheon will follow at the Wooden Nickel in North Huntingdon, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to his granddaughter's Memorial Campership Fund that helps special needs children enjoy a week of summer camp. Send to the ARC of Somerset County NJ, 141 South Main Street, Manville, NJ 08835 and note: The Becca Laffoon Campership Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ketusky Funeral Home, 1310 Brooks Blvd., Manville, NJ. (908)575-8512. For additional information please visit our website at www.ketusky.com.

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Thomas Robert Parry

September 30, 1925 - February 8, 2017