Thomas S Genley

On Friday, January 19, 2024, Tom Genley passed away quietly, in his sleep. Tom was born in Chicago, IL, on September 13, 1949, the youngest of three children, to a family living on the northwest side of the city.

Tom began his work career as a math teacher at Ridgewood High School for 10 years, and then went into retail at Marshall Fields for a few years, which he always enjoyed talking about. Tom later worked in a variety of accounting-related jobs in the insurance field.

Tom met his life partner, James Hicks Davidson, in the summer of 1985, and they held a Commitment Ceremony on October 18, 1989. Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in early 2007, and James passed away in late 2010, leading Tom to take an early, disability retirement in 2012.

Tom was on the community board that advocated for the development of an LGBT Senior Living Center, and in 2014, Tom left the condo that he and James had shared to move into the newly-built “Town Hall Apartments” on Halsted St. in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. He was proud to be among the inaugural residents in a LGBT-community facility dedicated to helping LGBT elders. By 2018, Tom needed more direct health care and moved to “Symphony of Lincoln Park,” an Assisted Living facility, where he resided until his passing. At Symphony, to the envy of his fellow residents, Tom excelled in their BINGO activities program with predictable winnings basically every week.

Tom set a wonderful example by being intellectually curious, politically-aware, scrupulously honest, and exceedingly kind. As a child, Tom was raised in the Catholic faith. As an adult, Tom and James were long-time members of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. In 2011, Tom began reading and studying The Urantia Book, a modern-day, celestial revelation that includes an in-depth study of the life and teachings of Jesus. Tom was a member of the local organization, First Society for Readers of The Urantia Book, as well as the international organization, The Urantia Book Fellowship, right up until his passing.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Angela and Stanley Dzieglewicz. Tom is survived by his sister and brother-in law, Sharon and Mitch Piecuch and his sister Judy Dzieglewicz. Tom is also survived by his niece Michelle Kilgallen, nephews, Alan (Cindy), Greg (Amy), and David (Amanda) Piecuch, as well as many more in the extended family.

A “Celebration of Life” will be planned in the early spring.