Thomas Anthony DeLuca

1941 - 2015

DeLuca Thomas Anthony DeLuca, 74, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away Friday, September 4, 2015. He was born in Akron, Ohio on January 28, 1941 to the late Jack and Mary DeLuca. He is preceded in death by his sister Carol Raines. Tom was one of eight children raised in the North Hill neighborhood of Akron, Ohio and attended grade school at St. Martha's. His formative years were spent working in the family's popular DeLuca's Bismark Italian restaurant. He excelled as a student athlete at Archbishop Hoban High School (Class of 1959) and served as Class President. High school achievement resulted in a football scholarship at the University of Detroit with a subsequent stint in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany. Marriage soon followed to Patricia Drace in 1964 and together they had four children. His early professional career began at St. Mary's of Redford in Detroit as a teacher, athletic coach and assistant principal. He then seized an opportunity in the healthcare industry as a pharmaceutical salesman. The majority of his working career was spent as a senior executive at both Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Northeast Ohio, as well as, Physicians Health Plan in Columbus, Ohio. Volunteering at Junior Achievement was a signature cause throughout his executive career. He was an avid reader and history buff. His grandchildren affectionately referred to him as "Poppy" and he spent his retirement years faithfully attending his grandchildren's activities. He took great pride in his heritage, knew no strangers and was up for any adventure. Tom is survived by his children, Allyson (Scott) Geringer, Laurie (Matt) Levy, Joe (Amy) DeLuca, Mike (Sara) DeLuca; and 11 grandchildren, Lindsay, Maya, Katy (Jason), Drew, Maddie, Alex, Will, Nick, Jack, Sofia, Gabby; and his siblings, Betty Jane McShane, Grace (Nick) Spada, Francis DeLuca, Kathleen (Rudy) Backer, Bill (Barb) DeLuca, Vicky Bravo; mother-in-law, Pauline Drace; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 10 from 5-8 p.m. at Hennessy Funeral Home, 552 North Main Street, Akron, Ohio and again on Friday, September 11 from 9-10 a.m. at Blessed Trinity (formerly St. Martha's), 300 E. Tallmadge Avenue, Akron, Ohio until the Mass of Christian Burial begins at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Tom's honor may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at http://act.alz.org/site/TR?pxfid=302951&fr_id=1060&pg=fund&s_tafId=185977 under the Thomas A. DeLuca Tribute Fund. The family would like to thank the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center for assisting them in fulfilling Tom's wishes to be an organ donor. They would also like to thank Tridea Hospice for providing compassionate care to Tom and his family. Visit www.egan-ryan.com to offer condolences.