Dr. Thomas G. Vinci passed away on Thanksgiving morning at the age of 93 in Boca Raton, Florida. He was born in 1923 on Manhattan’s lower east side. Tom is survived by Elin, his most devoted and supportive wife of 68 years, his son Tom and his wife Ann, both attorneys in New York, and his son Peter, owner of an Atlanta media firm. In addition, he is survived by four grandchildren – Andrew, Kaitlin, Mac, and William.
Tom graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York in 1942, received a B.S. from the School of Education at Fordham University in 1949, an M.A. in Educational Administration and a Ed.D. in Science Education from Columbia University Teacher’s College in 1967. He began his career as a 6th grade teacher in New York City, and then became its science coordinator for 28 years. Dr. Vinci then starting teaching as an assistant professor at Fordham University in the School of Education, became a full professor, and retired as the Associate Dean Emeritus in 1988.
Dr. Vinci was named the “Outstanding Educator of the Year” by the Doctorate Association of New York in 1983, and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi. In addition, he was founder/editor/president of the following organizations; the Elementary School Science Association of New York, the Federation of Science Teacher Associations of New York, the National Science Teachers Association of New York, the Education Section of the New York Academy of Science, and the Biology Congress of New York City. Additionally, a conference room was named for him at Fordham University in New York. Dr. Vinci was also the author of 27 chapters and monographs in textbooks and national publications.
In retirement, Tom was always busy and served on hundred of committees and executive boards of professional, community, and national organizations. He served these groups with a positive approach, a bright smile, and a sense of humor. He did this to increase the role of education and civic causes. He volunteered and held leadership positions in many groups in Boca Raton, Florida including The Mayor’s Education Advisory Board, the Christ Child Society, the League for Educational Awareness of the Holocaust, Men of Caring Hearts, FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association of South Florida, the Fordham University Alumni Club of South Florida, and the New Pines Development Center. In addition to these, Tom served on the Board of Directors and was President of the Sabal Point Apartment Association, where he lived for over 25 years.
Professionally, Tom was most proud of the following which written as an inscription to Tom by one of his students, Arthur N. Popper, the author of the book Auditory and Perception of Sound Sources: “This book represents your legacy, since, without you being my 6th grade teacher, this book and my career in science, would never have been. Tom, you were an extraordinary teacher. While there was so much value in your class, I think that the thing that had the most impact on me was your love of science and your ability to infect students with that love. Indeed, this infection totally shaped my life, an made me who I am today.”
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 3rd at 9:30am at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Deerfield Beach, Florida. A celebration of Tom’s life will be held following the funeral at Sabal Point, located at 700 South Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida. The family requests that Memorial gifts can be made to The Christ Child Society of Boca Raton at P.O. Box 811025, Boca Raton, Florida, 33481.
Arrangements under the direction of Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home, Boca Raton, FL.
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