Thomas A. Lambert

LAMBERT, THOMAS A. 80 - longtime resident of Beach Haven, Temple U Hall of Famer. passed away peacefully Friday, October 6, 2006. Tom was born in Philadelphia, September 28, 1926. He received a scholarship to play basketball at Temple University and went on to become a three-time All-American soccer player. His college years were interrupted by his service in the Pacific theater during WWII. He graduated Temple in 1950 and was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He continued his soccer career playing for The Philadelphia Nationals, The Philadelphia Americans, and The Uhrik Truckers. Tom and Virginia moved their family to Beach Haven in 1959, where he taught Phys Ed and coached basketball and soccer at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin until his retirement. A longtime bartender, Toni worked 25 years at the Sea Shell Club in Beach Raven, where he will always be remembered as "T-Bone." Tom is survived by five children: Virginia DiBella of Honeoye Falls, NY; Lydia (Glenn) Johansen, of Kona, HI; Colleen of Beach Haven; Tom of Houston TX; and Jim (Theo) of Bridgewater. He is also survived by his brother John (Juanita) of Glen Mills, PA and eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 10:30a.m., Wednesday, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Beach Raven. Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 Tuesday, and Wednesday morning from 9-10am at Maxwell Funeral Home in Manahawkin. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to: Beach Haven Police Vest Fund, 300 Engleside Aye, Beach Haven, NJ 08008 or Deborah Hospital Foundation, Browns Mills, NJ 08015.