MARION HEIGHTS – Clement Edward Thomas (Tomazewski), 94, nicknamed "Tomba," passed away to meet the Lord on 2/25/2022.   He was born on August 11, 1927, and originally lived in Kulpmont, PA.  He then was a resident of Marion Heights since his marriage to Helen Nodzon (now deceased) on June 20, 1953, in our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Marion Heights.  Clem was the son of the late George "Butch" Thomas and Anna (Bocz) Thomas and brother to Edward Thomas who preceded him in death.

He was a 1942 graduate of Saint Casimir's Grade School and a 1946 graduate of Kulpmont High School.  He was a powerful swimmer and served as a lifeguard at Ideal Park.  During the war years he spent summertime with his "Ciocia" Elsie in Baltimore Maryland carrying and loading heavy ammunition crates in warehouses and on docks.

He excelled in sports such as Football, Baseball and Basketball.  Clem lettered all four years in football in High School.  His Junior and Senior year playing for the Kulpmont High School Football Wildcats, in 1944 and 1945, dominated other teams recording a 22-0 record in two years.  Those two teams recorded 14 shutouts in 22 games and did not allow any team to score more than one touchdown in any game.  The 1945 Kulpmont High School team was the Eastern Conference Champions.  Clem achieved First-Team Pennsylvania All State Tackle in 1945 by the Associated Press.

Known for his powerful strength he was highly recruited nationally for football.  Clem attended the University of Tennessee and Susquehanna University where he played football.  He also played for the United States Marines from 1946 to 1948 at Quantico, Virginia.  His team was All Service champions East and West coasts.  During and post WWII years, military football was one of the most competitive sports in the country.  He was awarded the All Marine and Navy First-Team honor at the Tackle position.

He played with and against All Americans and Professional football players.  He was invited to the New York Giants football training camp.  Clem signed a Rights Contract with the NFL Washington Redskins professional football team.  He was called back to active service duty, with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he continued to play football and his team was District Champions.  Clem personally received the Certificate of Achievement award from the U.S. Secretary of the Navy.

Clem returned to his roots as the assistant football line coach for Ed Stavenski for the 1951 undefeated Kulpmont HS Wildcats.  Clem finished out his athletic days as Third Baseman for many local teams and played Semi-Pro football.  He was inducted on March 24, 2001, into the Ed Romance Sports Hall of Fame.

Clem was a member of Holy Angels Church in Kulpmont and the American Legion in Kulpmont.  He was a life member of the West End Fire Company, Kulpmont, and a life member of the Marion Heights Fire Company.  He was a member of the Catholic War Veterans of Marion Heights.  Clem worked at TRW for 38 years combined in Danville and Harrisburg and was a member of the TRW retirement group.

Clem loved live TV sports shows, clam bakes, limburger cheese, sweet onions, liverwurst and drinking beer.

He is survived by his son Ronald and daughter-in-law Margaret Thomas of Colorado Springs, CO., and daughter Patricia and son-in-law David Miller, of Oldsmar, FL.  Four grandchildren, grandson Gregory and Allie (Bomben) Thomas, Denver CO, granddaughter Jacqueline (Thomas) Birr and Eric Birr, Colorado Springs CO, grandson Sean and Jessica Miller, Denver CO, and grandson Christopher Miller, Seattle WA.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Clement Edward Thomas (Tomazewski), 94, Marion Heights – Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 4, 2022 at 11 a.m. with Father Andrew Stahmer officiating in the Church of the Holy Angels, 855 Scott St., Kulpmont, PA. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg. Viewing will be held from 9 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. in the C. J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., 1053 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, PA, Malcom C. Farrow IV, Supervisor. To send condolences to the family please visit www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com