Thomas Leo Irons

BRADFORD, Pa. - Thomas Leo Irons, 76, formerly of Bradford, passed away Saturday (June 27, 2015) at the Bradford Manor.

Born July 18, 1938, in Olean, N.Y., he was a son of the late William Ellis and Katherine Fitzgerald Irons.

On Sept. 18, 1976, in Bemus Point, N.Y., he married Barbara Pfurtscheller Irons, who survives.

Tom was a 1956 graduate of Otto High School. In the summer of 1956, Tom signed a professional baseball contract with the Cleveland Indians and played for their minor league team in Parma, Ohio.

On Nov. 2, 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, for which he was stationed in San Antonio. He was honorably discharged Nov. 1, 1963.

He worked for Kendall Refining Company and later American Refinery Group (ARG) until his retirement in 2004 as a supervisor with more than 46 years of service.

During his time in the Army, Tom developed his skills as a fast-pitch softball pitcher. After returning to the Bradford area, he began to play in several leagues, honing his craft and quickly became a local legend for his pitching prowess. The "Ironman" was a local fixture at Marcus Park in Olean and many other softball communities in the area during the '60s, '70s and '80s. He won countless awards, set numerous records and was part of several league championship and travel team championships - including finishing fourth in the nation during the 1977 ASA National Championship in Nashville, where Tom beat the eventual champion team Little Creek. Tom officially retired from softball in 1988 and was rewarded for his efforts by being inducted into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame.

Surviving in addition to his wife of 38 years, Barbara, are two sons, William Thomas (Jamie) Irons of Allegany, N.Y., and Joseph Peter (Julie) Irons of Lakewood, N.Y.; five sisters, Mary Lou (George) Gigliotti of Bradford, Ruth Boyle of Duke Center, Wanda Livak of Salamanca, N.Y., Peg Irons of Atlanta and Beth (Robert) Kaczmarek of Duke Center; two brothers, Francis Fitzgerald of Sheffield, and James (Mary Lou) Irons of Eldred; five grandchildren, Quinn Ashlynn Irons, Nolan Thomas Irons, Jack Thomas Irons, Leo Robert Irons and Aubrey Ann Irons; and countless nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, William Irons, Rex Irons, Gordon Irons and Gilbert Irons.

Family will be receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. 372 E. Main St., Bradford. Immediately following the visitation, family and friends of the "Ironman" are invited to continue to celebrate his life at the Village Green in Olean. Friends will again be received from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday (July 1, 2015) at the funeral home, where funeral and committal services will be held with Father Stephen Collins, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church, officiating. Burial will be in Grimes Cemetery, Port Allegany.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 1128 State St., Suite 301, Erie, PA 16501.