Thomas "Taush" G. Medved, Jr.

Thomas George (Taush) Medved, Jr., of Ormond Beach, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 5, 2023. He was born to Thomas, Sr., and Barbara Medved on August 18, 1933, in Republic, Pennsylvania, the youngest of eight children. His parents migrated to the United States from Croatia, then a part of Yugoslavia. Tom’s father was a coal miner, his mother a homemaker. Tom grew up in a loving family of abiding Catholic faith. While he would hunt deer and pheasant with his brothers, he developed a love of sports, particularly baseball. When in high school, he became the top pitcher for the baseball team, leading the team to the Pennsylvania state championship. Upon graduation, Tom was offered an opportunity to play with the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise, but in those days, you had to finance your own way into the minor leagues, making it a dream he was unable to pursue. Fortunately, Tom had already met the love of his life, Helen (Dolly) Hruby, and they were married on June 1, 1953. Soon thereafter, Tom began his service in the U.S. Army. After his service, he and Helen moved to Miami, Florida, and both looked to opportunities in the new and up-and-coming aviation industry. Tom used the G.I. Bill to enroll at Embry-Riddle, then a School of Aviation located in Miami. After two-years of training, Tom began a career in aviation mechanics, working more than 35 years for Pan American World Airways. Simply put, Tom had three loves throughout his life: family, baseball, and aviation.

In 2000, Tom and Helen retired and moved to Ormond Beach. They joined Prince of Peace Catholic Church, where they found a wonderful church family with an abundance of collegiality, stewardship, and friends amongst the ministries. Tom soon found himself as the head usher at the 11:00 am mass, and as an officer with the Knights of Columbus. It kept him busy. When time allowed, he continued enjoying baseball, attending local games of the Daytona Cubs/Tortugas and following his Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins. Tom, with a nudge or two from Helen, loved taking care of his home, especially his landscaped yard. And he loved animals. He spoiled his two cats, and quickly became the neighborhood zookeeper for the ducks from the lake behind their home and the many squirrels that occupied their trees. Every week, Tom and Helen made their way to the day-old bread store and the pet store to stock up to feed the many outdoor animals for the week. It was quite an adventure.

Tom was predeceased by his darling wife Helen, together for 68 years, by his parents Barbara and Thomas, Sr., by his sisters Helen Kapal and Katherine Rozak, and his brothers Frank Medved, Steve Medved, John Medved, and Joseph Medved. He is survived by his beloved son Daniel, his brother George Medved, and many cherished relatives in Pennsylvania and Michigan.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 600 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach, at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 13. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to the Social Services Ministry at Prince of Peace Catholic Church (princeofpeaceormond.com; 386-672-5272).

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dignity Volusia Memorial, 550 N. Nova Road, Ormond Beach (dignitymemorial.com).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com for the Medved family.