Thomas J. Zenobi

WEST PITTSTON — Thomas J. Zenobi, 73, formerly of West Pittston, passed away on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Pittston, he was the son of the late Gino J. and Linda Stella Zenobi.

Tom was a 1967 graduate of Wyoming Area High School and went on to attend Wilkes College and Syracuse University before earning his master's degree from Penn State University in aeronautical engineering.

For 20 years, Tom was employed as an aeronautical engineer at the Naval Air Warfare Center of Warminster. He worked on a variety of special projects involving pilot seat ejections, G-Tolerance Improvement Program (GTIP), and F/A-18 simulation. He holds two patents, owned by the United States Navy, for the inventions of safety mechanisms used in pilot seat ejections. Tom spoke often of his colleagues there and good times had "on the base."

He settled in Perkasie where he raised his four beloved children Tony, Angie, Carl and Julie. Many weekends were spent driving up the turnpike to "the valley" to visit the extended family and gather around the kitchen table for homemade ravioli and cappelletti. Tom loved his Italian-American heritage and the customs of simply sitting around the table to eat together and share stories. Of course this included a few cigar breaks on the stoop as well. He was a grand storyteller and loved to hold friendly conversations with all.

After his retirement, Tom returned to the Wyoming Valley area that he adored. He loved reconnecting with his old classmates and hosting "pasta-ramas" at the local restaurant. Tom enjoyed watching his college football, the autumn leaves, listening to music, and spending time with his family — which usually involved eating pizza.

Surviving are his children: Anthony (Tony) and his wife Melanie Zenobi, Perkasie, Angela and her husband Jefferson Chaney, Glenside, Carl and his wife Jeanna Zenobi, Souderton, and Julie Zenobi and her husband Juan Ortiz, Brooklyn, N.Y.; seven grandchildren: Isabella, Zoe, Oscar, Lincoln, Willa, Benicio, and Roman.

Also surviving is his brother attorney Eugene Zenobi and his wife Kris, Miami, Florida

Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gubbiotti Funeral Home LLC, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter.

Funeral will be on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Corpus Christi Parish in Immaculate Conception Church, 605 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston. The Monsignor John Sempa, pastor, will be celebrant.

Interment with Rite of Committal will be in Italian Independent Cemetery, West Wyoming.

To send the family an expression of sympathy or an online condolence, please visit www.gubbiottifh.com.