Thomas Theodore Pacchioli died May 17, 2019, surrounded by his loving family and his loving wife of 65 years, Margaret (my pretty Peggy) Pacchioli. Thomas was born in Easton Pennsylvania, May 23, 1933, to his proud parents, Anthony and Anna Pacchioli. He will be laid to rest at Bailey Funeral Home on his birthday, Thursday, May 23, 2019.
Thomas is survived by his daughter and son in-law, Judith and Timothy Connolly, his daughter and son in-law, Gloria and Bradley Bruening, his son and daughter in-law, Thomas and Kimberly Pacchioli, his daughter and son in-law Cate Pacchioli and Richard Stout, his daughter Cynthia Pacchioli and his daughter and son in-law, Margaret and Paul Cadena. Poppy has 33 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Each and every new addition was taught the song that made Poppy laugh, grandma blush and his kids yell, Poppy!!!
Dad enlisted in the Army right out of school and served eight years in intelligence, only leaving for the Love he left behind. He came home and married Peggy and in 1955 the young couple went on a wild adventure together. Dad never went to school for cooking yet he became the youngest Master Chef ever in 1967 going on to win countless awards, including, in 1969 he won what is now called the Michelin Award. For the 1983/84 Super Bowl, dad created the most memorable party, to date, in Tampa, Florida. Toward the end of his career, dad went “Hollywood” and worked for Warner Bros. He showed off his culinary talents in TV shows such as China Beach, Growing Pains, Night Court and Designing Women, and, in movies such as Locked up, Mother and Jagged Edge.
Dad had many talents, he cooked, did ice sculptures and loved to paint. One day he got mad at the city mayor, so, he ran against him, beat him and became one hell of a mayor. Dad was instrumental in helping to bring in the “911” program and many other improvements to our city. What a man!
After all that we believe that dad felt his crowning achievement was his family. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with everything he had. Flowers for mom, always, huge Christmas mornings and the food!!!! We will always have the memories of waking up at three am to hear him saying, “pack, we’re going to Disney World”! When one of his kids stayed out too late, you can be sure he was bouncing on their bed first thing in the morning yelling and laughing, “Hurricane, Hurricane, Hurricane”.
Our dad is loved, cherished and adored, until we meet again, daddy ❤️💕
