Thomas George Hunter

THOMAS GEORGE HUNTER, 81, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2025, surrounded by family.

A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and teacher, Thomas was born on September 14, 1944, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was raised in Euclid. He was a proud graduate of St. Joseph High School and Cleveland State University, where he majored in Business Management.

Thomas devoted his entire career to education, teaching business in the Strongsville School System. He was honored as a Jennings Scholar and was named Teacher of the Year, recognitions that reflected his passion for teaching and commitment to his students.

He valued civic responsibility and lifelong participation in public life. As a young man, he volunteered in the 1964 Barry Goldwater presidential campaign and later faithfully served his community by working the polls every year in Chagrin Falls.

Thomas was well known for his love of cooking and enjoyed experimenting with new recipes. He was also an avid reader with a deep curiosity about the world.

A devoted baseball fan, Thomas closely followed the Cleveland Indians-now the Cleveland Guardians. He was a longtime member of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) and attended many conventions. Known for his encyclopedic baseball knowledge, he volunteered at Jacobs Field, answering fans' baseball questions and sharing his enthusiasm for the game.

Above all, Thomas was a proud and devoted grandfather who helped raise his grandchildren. He adored each of them and loved taking them along wherever he went.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mary Hunter. He is survived by his loving wife, Karen Riddlebaugh Hunter; his sister, Mary Joan Hunter Gruhn (Robert); his daughter, Jennifer Elizabeth Hunter Arth (Christopher); his son, Paul Thomas Hunter (Michele); and his cherished grandchildren, Patrick Arth, Elizabeth Arth, Mary Arth, and Alexandra Hunter.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, January 7, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Murphy Funeral Home in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 8, at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Chagrin Falls, followed by a luncheon. A private family interment will be held at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Chagrin Falls. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Rescue Village in Novelty, Ohio, in his memory.