Don Thomas Will Be Memorialized at Saturday Service

Don Thomas, longtime South Orange resident, who died in January at age 79, will be remembered on Saturday. A service will be held on February 18, at 10 a.m., at Saint Andrews & Holy Communion Church. A repast will be held in the parish hall after the service.

Born in 1932, Thomas lived in a house on Lenox Place for close to eight decades.  Following the deterioration of his health, Thomas made the decision to sell the house in the summer of 2011 and move to Maplewood's Winchester Gardens.

Thomas graduated Columbia High School in 1950 and then went to Columbia University for his undergraduate degree, Seton Hall University for his masters and finally Rutgers University for his doctorate.  He spent 10 years as an English teacher in Livingston, followed by another 20 as a Guidance Counselor in Westfield.

However, Thomas’ lasting legacy may have been his involvement with The Episcopal Church of Saint Andrew and Holy Communion, of which he spent his entire life as a member.

“He was part of the very fabric of the church” the church's rector, Rev. Sandye Wilson said in an interview with Patch on Monday.  “He’s been a member of it since before he was born.  He loved this church and he loved this town.  He loved every bit of the fiber of the church.  There are many things he built with his own hands and many things that he saw.”

Thomas took those experiences at the Church and wrote about them in a book titled The Episcopal Church(es) of Saint Andrew and Holy Communion South Orange, New Jersey 1859-2009, in celebration of the Church’s 150th anniversary.  Formerly two separate Episcopal parishes, St. Andrew and the Church of the Holy Communion came together in 1973 when it was agreed that there were no longer enough Episcopalians in South Orange to support both.  Thomas was a member of the latter and formerly was a member of the choir.

"Even though it's a mouthful, at least it preserves the history of the two churches," Thomas told Patch in December 2010 when asked about the book.

In the course of his research for the book, Thomas discovered George McCoy.  He found a parish register that listed men of the Village who served and died in World War I.  Except for McCoy, all the names also appear on the memorial flagpole in the center of town. Thomas wondered if McCoy belonged there, as well.

"This is important," Thomas told Patch at the time. "This man gave the ultimate sacrifice. If he were my son or nephew, I would want him recognized."

The name was added to the memorial in June 2010, thanks in huge part to Don Thomas.  This was just another of the many ways that Thomas contributed to his home town.

“I know many will miss Don’s contributions to our community, especially to all of our understandings and enjoyment of South Orange history,” said South Orange Village President Alex Torpey, upon hearing of Thomas’ passing.