Thomas Donald Higley, 84, of Sheffield Village, passed away surrounded by his loving family Wednesday morning August 25, 2021. Tom was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 21, 1937, at St. Elizabeth Hospital. A graduate of Ursuline High School in 1955, Tom was an Irish fan through and through. After marrying his wife Marie on September 18, 1965, at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Youngstown, he graduated from Youngstown State University while the two started their family. The two met at Tom's best man's wedding 18 months earlier as Tom served as best man and Marie attended the bride. Tom loved his Irish teams; whether it was enjoying Ursuline's yearly win over rival Mooney or the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, he rarely missed a game.
Tom started his career at Sheet and Tube in Youngstown as the Safety Director in 1955. In November of 1977, he moved to Lorain to serve in the same capacity at American Ship Builders. In June 1978, the rest of the Higley family moved to Elyria. Tom also worked at Glidden Paint and Dave and Busters but enjoyed nothing more than working in Guest Services for the Cleveland Indians for 16 years before finally retiring in 2015.
Tom was extremely popular with Indians' fans as they often brought gifts and cookies from Kiedrowski's Bakery to satisfy his very healthy sweet tooth. In fact, Tom was once brought an Ursuline shirt by a rival Mooney fan. Tom loved the Indians, and they loved him.
Tom adored and was most proud of his family. He could always be found attending the many sporting and various other events in which his grandchildren participated. Nothing pleased him more than having his entire family around him for holidays, birthdays, picnics, and trips to Cedar Point.
Tom and Marie belonged to St. Jude's Parish in Elyria. Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Avon and was well known for the Sock Hops he organized. Tom celebrated life to the fullest, especially St. Patrick's Day when he was always on the dance floor dancing the jig with any willing suitor. Tom never met a stranger. Tom and Marie enjoyed traveling, making their way to Ireland, the home of both Tom and Marie's mothers. The two also traveled to the Rose Bowl for the parade and the "Grand Daddy of Them All." Tom led a full and rich life centered on his family and friends and will be affectionately remembered by many.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Kathryn (nee Kavanaugh); and sisters Rita Jones and Mary Beth Rich. Tom is survived by wife Marie (nee Illencik); children Ann (Jim) Davis, Patrick (Jennifer), Maureen (Phillip) Zollos, Teresa Higley, and Karen Higley; and 11 grandchildren, Patrick, Meghan, Lizzy, Ian, Seamus, Jake, Aaron, Kyle, Gavon, Owen, and Molly. Tom dearly loved and leaves behind nieces Patty (Greg) Capito, Pam (Al) Haberstroh, and Denise Jones; as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be forwarded to Youngstown Ursuline High School https://ursuline.com/product/make-a-donation/ or to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1420 Oak Hill Avenue, Youngstown OH 44507 to the Christmas Fund.
Friends may call for a visitation on Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 11:00am - 1:00pm at Busch Funeral Home, 32000 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH. Funeral service to follow at 1:00pm, officiated by Tom's dear friend Rev. James Walcott. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Tom started his career at Sheet and Tube in Youngstown as the Safety Director in 1955. In November of 1977, he moved to Lorain to serve in the same capacity at American Ship Builders. In June 1978, the rest of the Higley family moved to Elyria. Tom also worked at Glidden Paint and Dave and Busters but enjoyed nothing more than working in Guest Services for the Cleveland Indians for 16 years before finally retiring in 2015.
Tom was extremely popular with Indians' fans as they often brought gifts and cookies from Kiedrowski's Bakery to satisfy his very healthy sweet tooth. In fact, Tom was once brought an Ursuline shirt by a rival Mooney fan. Tom loved the Indians, and they loved him.
Tom adored and was most proud of his family. He could always be found attending the many sporting and various other events in which his grandchildren participated. Nothing pleased him more than having his entire family around him for holidays, birthdays, picnics, and trips to Cedar Point.
Tom and Marie belonged to St. Jude's Parish in Elyria. Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Avon and was well known for the Sock Hops he organized. Tom celebrated life to the fullest, especially St. Patrick's Day when he was always on the dance floor dancing the jig with any willing suitor. Tom never met a stranger. Tom and Marie enjoyed traveling, making their way to Ireland, the home of both Tom and Marie's mothers. The two also traveled to the Rose Bowl for the parade and the "Grand Daddy of Them All." Tom led a full and rich life centered on his family and friends and will be affectionately remembered by many.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Kathryn (nee Kavanaugh); and sisters Rita Jones and Mary Beth Rich. Tom is survived by wife Marie (nee Illencik); children Ann (Jim) Davis, Patrick (Jennifer), Maureen (Phillip) Zollos, Teresa Higley, and Karen Higley; and 11 grandchildren, Patrick, Meghan, Lizzy, Ian, Seamus, Jake, Aaron, Kyle, Gavon, Owen, and Molly. Tom dearly loved and leaves behind nieces Patty (Greg) Capito, Pam (Al) Haberstroh, and Denise Jones; as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be forwarded to Youngstown Ursuline High School https://ursuline.com/product/make-a-donation/ or to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1420 Oak Hill Avenue, Youngstown OH 44507 to the Christmas Fund.
Friends may call for a visitation on Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 11:00am - 1:00pm at Busch Funeral Home, 32000 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH. Funeral service to follow at 1:00pm, officiated by Tom's dear friend Rev. James Walcott. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Thomas Donald Higley, 84, of Sheffield Village, passed away surrounded by his loving family Wednesday morning August 25, 2021. Tom was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 21, 1937, at St. Elizabeth Hospital. A graduate of Ursuline High School in 1955, Tom was an Irish fan through and through. After marrying his wife Marie on September 18, 1965, at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Youngstown, he graduated from Youngstown State University while the two started their family. The two met at Tom's best man's wedding 18 months earlier as Tom served as best man and Marie attended the bride. Tom loved his Irish teams; whether it was enjoying Ursuline's yearly win over rival Mooney or the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, he rarely missed a game.
Tom started his career at Sheet and Tube in Youngstown as the Safety Director in 1955. In November of 1977, he moved to Lorain to serve in the same capacity at American Ship Builders. In June 1978, the rest of the Higley family moved to Elyria. Tom also worked at Glidden Paint and Dave and Busters but enjoyed nothing more than working in Guest Services for the Cleveland Indians for 16 years before finally retiring in 2015.
Tom was extremely popular with Indians' fans as they often brought gifts and cookies from Kiedrowski's Bakery to satisfy his very healthy sweet tooth. In fact, Tom was once brought an Ursuline shirt by a rival Mooney fan. Tom loved the Indians, and they loved him.
Tom adored and was most proud of his family. He could always be found attending the many sporting and various other events in which his grandchildren participated. Nothing pleased him more than having his entire family around him for holidays, birthdays, picnics, and trips to Cedar Point.
Tom and Marie belonged to St. Jude's Parish in Elyria. Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Avon and was well known for the Sock Hops he organized. Tom celebrated life to the fullest, especially St. Patrick's Day when he was always on the dance floor dancing the jig with any willing suitor. Tom never met a stranger. Tom and Marie enjoyed traveling, making their way to Ireland, the home of both Tom and Marie's mothers. The two also traveled to the Rose Bowl for the parade and the "Grand Daddy of Them All." Tom led a full and rich life centered on his family and friends and will be affectionately remembered by many.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Kathryn (nee Kavanaugh); and sisters Rita Jones and Mary Beth Rich. Tom is survived by wife Marie (nee Illencik); children Ann (Jim) Davis, Patrick (Jennifer), Maureen (Phillip) Zollos, Teresa Higley, and Karen Higley; and 11 grandchildren, Patrick, Meghan, Lizzy, Ian, Seamus, Jake, Aaron, Kyle, Gavon, Owen, and Molly. Tom dearly loved and leaves behind nieces Patty (Greg) Capito, Pam (Al) Haberstroh, and Denise Jones; as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be forwarded to Youngstown Ursuline High School https://ursuline.com/product/make-a-donation/ or to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1420 Oak Hill Avenue, Youngstown OH 44507 to the Christmas Fund.
Friends may call for a visitation on Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 11:00am - 1:00pm at Busch Funeral Home, 32000 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH. Funeral service to follow at 1:00pm, officiated by Tom's dear friend Rev. James Walcott. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Tom started his career at Sheet and Tube in Youngstown as the Safety Director in 1955. In November of 1977, he moved to Lorain to serve in the same capacity at American Ship Builders. In June 1978, the rest of the Higley family moved to Elyria. Tom also worked at Glidden Paint and Dave and Busters but enjoyed nothing more than working in Guest Services for the Cleveland Indians for 16 years before finally retiring in 2015.
Tom was extremely popular with Indians' fans as they often brought gifts and cookies from Kiedrowski's Bakery to satisfy his very healthy sweet tooth. In fact, Tom was once brought an Ursuline shirt by a rival Mooney fan. Tom loved the Indians, and they loved him.
Tom adored and was most proud of his family. He could always be found attending the many sporting and various other events in which his grandchildren participated. Nothing pleased him more than having his entire family around him for holidays, birthdays, picnics, and trips to Cedar Point.
Tom and Marie belonged to St. Jude's Parish in Elyria. Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Avon and was well known for the Sock Hops he organized. Tom celebrated life to the fullest, especially St. Patrick's Day when he was always on the dance floor dancing the jig with any willing suitor. Tom never met a stranger. Tom and Marie enjoyed traveling, making their way to Ireland, the home of both Tom and Marie's mothers. The two also traveled to the Rose Bowl for the parade and the "Grand Daddy of Them All." Tom led a full and rich life centered on his family and friends and will be affectionately remembered by many.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Kathryn (nee Kavanaugh); and sisters Rita Jones and Mary Beth Rich. Tom is survived by wife Marie (nee Illencik); children Ann (Jim) Davis, Patrick (Jennifer), Maureen (Phillip) Zollos, Teresa Higley, and Karen Higley; and 11 grandchildren, Patrick, Meghan, Lizzy, Ian, Seamus, Jake, Aaron, Kyle, Gavon, Owen, and Molly. Tom dearly loved and leaves behind nieces Patty (Greg) Capito, Pam (Al) Haberstroh, and Denise Jones; as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be forwarded to Youngstown Ursuline High School https://ursuline.com/product/make-a-donation/ or to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1420 Oak Hill Avenue, Youngstown OH 44507 to the Christmas Fund.
Friends may call for a visitation on Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 11:00am - 1:00pm at Busch Funeral Home, 32000 Detroit Rd., Avon, OH. Funeral service to follow at 1:00pm, officiated by Tom's dear friend Rev. James Walcott. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.
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