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Joseph F. Thoman, a longtime resident of Grass Valley, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, in Scarborough, Maine.
At his request, no service will be held.
Joe was born on Sept. 3, 1933, in Batesville, Ind., and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in business and a master's in Education.
He raised his family in Grass Valley and taught school in Chicago Park, where he was also superintendent/principal until his retirement.
He found great joy in being near his son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Shirley, even following them to Japan for a short stint.
He moved to Massachusetts in 2001 to be near them, while Tom attended graduate school in Boston. Joe later moved to Cornish, Maine, living in a small town where he was most comfortable.
Joe loved the game of basketball, both as a player and a coach and enjoyed following the NCAA, especially during the playoffs.
He also took up the game of golf passionately, and Tom and his dad could often be found on the course during the last year of his life.
His daughter, Mindy, made yearly visits to Maine to see her father and Joe greatly enjoyed spending time with her. Kevin Fassino of Grass Valley and a close friend of Joe's, made a special trip to see him just a few weeks before he passed away.
Kevin and Joe enjoyed catching up and reconnecting during his visit.
In Joe's spare time, he enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles and playing Scrabble with his family.
He was a wonderful caretaker of Tom and Shirley's dogs, Bailey and Zoe, and would often be seen driving along in Cornish, Maine, with Bailey co-piloting.
Joe will be deeply missed and is survived by his son, Tom, and his wife, Shirley, of Cornish, Maine; his daughter, Mindy of Grass Valley; and his brother Al of Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to a charity of your choice.
At his request, no service will be held.
Joe was born on Sept. 3, 1933, in Batesville, Ind., and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in business and a master's in Education.
He raised his family in Grass Valley and taught school in Chicago Park, where he was also superintendent/principal until his retirement.
He found great joy in being near his son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Shirley, even following them to Japan for a short stint.
He moved to Massachusetts in 2001 to be near them, while Tom attended graduate school in Boston. Joe later moved to Cornish, Maine, living in a small town where he was most comfortable.
Joe loved the game of basketball, both as a player and a coach and enjoyed following the NCAA, especially during the playoffs.
He also took up the game of golf passionately, and Tom and his dad could often be found on the course during the last year of his life.
His daughter, Mindy, made yearly visits to Maine to see her father and Joe greatly enjoyed spending time with her. Kevin Fassino of Grass Valley and a close friend of Joe's, made a special trip to see him just a few weeks before he passed away.
Kevin and Joe enjoyed catching up and reconnecting during his visit.
In Joe's spare time, he enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles and playing Scrabble with his family.
He was a wonderful caretaker of Tom and Shirley's dogs, Bailey and Zoe, and would often be seen driving along in Cornish, Maine, with Bailey co-piloting.
Joe will be deeply missed and is survived by his son, Tom, and his wife, Shirley, of Cornish, Maine; his daughter, Mindy of Grass Valley; and his brother Al of Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to a charity of your choice.
