Clyde Alfred Thom passed away peacefully at his home in North Ridgeville, Ohio on December 28, 2024 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born on September 22, 1943, to Peter and Marian (nee McQuarrie) Thom in Ironwood, Michigan. As the youngest of nine children, Clyde learned to be resilient, funny, and outgoing. Clyde served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 1961 to 1965 as a radio operator before returning to northern Wisconsin. There, he worked various jobs including as a copper miner to attend classes and earned a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Clyde worked for the United States Customs Service in various positions across the country for 22 years before finally settling in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He retired as the Director of Inspection and Control for Cleveland in 1994.
Clyde spent his retirement enjoying travel with his family and sampling all the delicious delicacies of local festivals. As a native Wisconsinite who truly hated snow, Clyde celebrated the start of every summer at the Tremont Greek Festival with loukoumades and a shot of ouzo, and closed the summer with Italian sausage and zeppole at the St. Rocco’s Festival. He especially enjoyed cruising to Alaska in 2008 and in the Adriatic Sea in 2018. Clyde was a colorful storyteller, often embellishing events to the delight of his neighborhood friends and at the North Olmsted Recreation Center, where he often exercised.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years Karen (nee Lach) and their son Christopher Thom of Akron, Ohio; children Christy Thom and Ryan Thom of Seattle, Washington and Brandon Thom (Maggie) of Seven Hills, Ohio; four grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and each of his eight siblings.
A funeral Mass will be held on February 8th,2025 at 10:00AM, at Holy Trinity Church, 33601 Detroit Road Avon, OH 44011. Interment will be private. Donations may be made in Clyde’s memory to the St. Ignatius High School Scholarship Fund (https://www.ignatius.edu/annual-fund).
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