Thomas E Galinsky

Thomas E. Galinsky, age 70 of Brownhelm, passed away at his home on Friday August 9, 2024 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Tom, affectionately known as “Tommy”, was born September 19, 1953 in Oberlin, Ohio to Janet and Edward Galinsky. He grew up helping milk cows and planting crops at the family farm on West Rd. He was a 1972 Keystone High School graduate where he participated in Band and Track.

While a young boy, Tom played the accordion in a polka band and played gigs throughout Northern Ohio accompanied with band members much older than him. After high school, during the late 70's and early 80's, he performed in several different rock bands he helped put together. He was a talented singer, composer, lyricist and sound man, while also playing the piano, keyboard and harmonica. He and his bandmates played throughout the midwest and Great Lakes Region and had a legion of dedicated followers.

Tom attended The Ohio State University, Akron University and LCCC and studied Engineering and Electromagnetic Field Theory and Electrical Circuits. He proudly worked as a Designer at Parker-Hannifin, Airborne Division in Elyria and later founded Nickel Plate Gardens Inc. where he designed and developed a suspended hydronic heated rolling bench system, and a (1,250,000) Btu waste oil boiler for the company's nursery operation in Oberlin.

Tom and his wife Angie made their home in Brownhelm and enjoyed spending time together restoring the historic home they lived in. A skilled carpenter and designer, Tom had painstakingly restored or replicated original doors, windows, trim, millwork, built kitchen cabinets and furniture, and designed the front porch and improved roof line for the home. He did all of this while struggling with COPD. Later on, while tethered to oxygen Tom could still be seen climbing ladders, cutting wood, and upgrading plumbing and electrical. He made his life meaningful and productive until the end, as he intended.

Never one to turn down a day on Lake Erie, Tom enjoyed the time he spent fishing with his good friend Ron Daerr and beloved Dachshund Emma catching perch and walleye. He loved to photograph the storms and waterspouts coming in over the lake and had a number of really good shots in his album.

Having had a deep love for animals,Tom was like a Pied Piper for cats and never had the heart to turn a furry critter away that needed a good meal and a warm home. He loved walking in the woods in his healthier years, and later on, watching the birds at the bird feeders from his lawn chair. He was also deeply interested in all things involving space exploration, especially the Mars Rover feeds.

Thomas is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Angelina (nee Fife) Galinsky of Brownhelm; his son, Matthew Costanzo of Elyria; and his three cherished granddaughters Addison, Isabella, and Helena. He also leaves behind his brother, David Galinsky, and his sister, Anita (Scott) James, both of Oberlin as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Janet (nee Dysczkowski) Galinsky.

A private graveside service was held at Brownhelm Cemetery in Vermilion. Memorial contributions can be made in Tom's name to the Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research @ lustgarten.org.: or The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids @tobaccofreekids.org

The family would like to thank the outstanding staff at Stein Hospice for their compassionate support and care during this sad time.

Life is short, precious and fragile. According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S, causing more than 20% of all deaths. If you smoke please quit. If you can't quit for yourself then quit for the ones that you love.

Online condolences may be shared at www.riddlefuneralhome.com