Thomas Stuart Williams

Thomas Stuart Williams, 69,of Vermilion, died Oct.1, 2011 at Stein Hospice, Sandusky after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Born June 11, 1942 in Sandusky, Tom was a lifelong Vermilion resident. He married his high school girl friend, Judy Shaw, in 1962, while they were students at Bowling Green State University. Tom taught Business Education subjects for Firelands High School for 25 years retiring in 1998. Soon after he began teaching, the students nicknamed him "Fly", after Austin Peay's basketball player, Fly Williams, known for his flamboyant wardrobe and playing style. The nickname stayed through Tom's tenure at Firelands. Many students did not know his name was Mr. Williams; they thought it was Mr. Fly! Tom was proud that he was able to establish strong relationships with the students, who enjoyed his classes, and always greeted him enthusiastically after their graduation. Before teaching at Firelands, Tom had many other jobs, including delivering fresh cuts of meat on his bike, as a pre-teen, from the grocery store in Linwood Park to the Linwood Hotel, where his family has owned a cottage since the mid-1950's. Many Vermilion residents, then and now, have their own stories to tell about being at "the cottage", shooting baskets, buying ice cream at the Stand, or climbing up the Lagoons hill to prevent paying to get in the park. He also worked for his father, Thomas G., the Vermilion Postmaster, delivering mail while he was in high school and college. In 1975 and 1976, Tom and his family volunteered in the US Forest Service in Colorado and New Hampshire. Tom led hikes in the White Mountains, learned to fight forest fires, and gave talks on avalanche control. During the 1980's, Tom was a councilman for the City of Vermilion, representing Ward One. After retiring from teaching, he began his own power washing and firewood business, Power Washing Plus, which is now owned by his son-in-law. He drove a truck for Northridge Enterprise, delivering and picking up machine parts to various factories in northern Ohio and Michigan. Tom worked for the State of Ohio Department of Education from 2003-2010 as a Praxis III assessor, evaluating first year teachers between Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio. Shortly before his death, Tom and Judy donated wooded land in western Vermilion city to the Erie Metro Parks. The woods, named "Thomas Williams Metro Park" is dedicated to the memory of his father, as well as Tom. He was a member of the United Church of Church of Christ Congregational, Vermilion, where he was very active as an usher, deacon and as a member of the property committee. Tom is survived by his wife of almost 49 years, Judith (nee Shaw) Williams; his children, of whom he was very proud, two attorneys and two teachers: son, Christopher (Cindy Mog) Williams of Westlake; daughters, Karen (Fred) Rossi of Vermilion, Sarah Jane (Mark) Parker of North Ridgeville, and Saber (Joe) VanDetta of Westlake; 9 grandchildren, who will especially miss the Pirate Parades at Kelleys' Island, delivering cheese balls dressed as Santa and the elves, and fishing from the boat, "Paws": Ellen, Annabelle, and Margaret Rossi, Gabrielle and Ryan Parker, Jack, Anna, and Mia Williams, and Olive VanDetta; sisters, Shirley (Tom) Gleason of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Vermilion; Jennifer (Dr. Richard) Masin of Chagrin Falls and Vermilion; brothers, Mark Williams of Vermilion, and Dan Williams of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas George and Louise (nee Noon) Williams, and his in-laws, Roy and Bessie Shaw. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Oct.16, 2011 at 3 p.m at the United Church of Christ Congregational, 990 State Street, Vermilion, OH. Rev. Wendell Brooker will officiate. Friends may greet the family after the service for a time of fellowship and remembrance. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Tom Williams Metropark, checks should be payable to the Tom Williams Metropark and sent to Calfee, Halter & Griswold, 800 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 or the United Church of Christ Congregational Endowment Fund, 990 State Street P.O. Box 228, Vermilion., Ohio 44089. Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.