William D Thomas

Born Aug. 24, 1942, in New Brighton, Pa., he was a resident of Chester Township for two years and a former resident of Cleveland Heights for 35 years. Mr. Thomas graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, and The Pennsylvania State University with a Master's Degree in Music Education. Mr. Thomas began his teaching career in Peters Township, Pa. In 1968, he moved to Cleveland Heights to become the director of the Girls Glee Club and the Men's Chorus at Cleveland Heights High School. Under his direction, the size of the group doubled in the first year and continued to thrive, reaching 250 students at its peak. Mr. Thomas directed numerous musical productions and toured with the chorus throughout the United States and Canada. The group, also known as GGC-MC, became the Heights Singers in the 1980s. In 1997, he was named in Who's Who Among American Teachers. Even after his retirement in 1998, the reputation of the group and the traditions that were built by Mr. Thomas continue today. Mr. Thomas worked as Director of Music at Grace Lutheran Church in Cleveland Heights for more than 30 years. In 1969, he began working summers at Cain Park as a technical hand, where he worked back stage on the summer productions at the theaters, eventually working through the ranks to the position of operations manager. As operations manager, he spent tireless hours maintaining the park and preparing for the annual Arts Festival until his retirement in 2002. He was named "A Friend of Cain Park" in 2003.

Survivors include his wife, Jane (Monroe); daughters, Beth (Robert) Davis and Janet (Justin) Henry; son, W. David (Heidi, nee Honner); grandchildren, Marissa Horton, Kaitlynn Henry, Nathaniel Henry, Faith Henry, and Amalia Thomas; sister, Shirley (Bradford) Mitchell; and brother-in-law, John (Deb) Monroe Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Duwaine and Ellen Delores (Sayre) Thomas. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gattozzi and Son Funeral Home, 12524 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township. Memorial service will be 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2011, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 17989 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023. Pastor Rob Henderson will officiate. Private inurnment will be in St. John's Cemetery in Sagamore, Pa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018; or to Lord of Life Lutheran Church, (address above).