Thomas Zacharias

Thomas Zacharias, age 87, of Sterling Heights, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2021, at Park Place Heritage Village in Warren, Michigan. He was born September 17, 1933, in Hamtramck, son of the late Stanley and the late Stella (nee: Baranski) Zacharias.

Growing up in Hamtramck, Tom was the 7th of 14 children who definitely made their mark in the neighborhood. It wasn’t long after his graduation from Hamtramck High School that Tom enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Korean War from November 20, 1952, to November 19, 1955. Having been trained in the more technical aspects of war, Tom ultimately attained the level of Aviation Radar Technician, and earned his promotion to Sergeant on May 1, 1955.

Following his service in the Marine Corps, Tom attended Wayne State University then began his career at the Chrysler Corporation, where he ultimately attained the position of Die Engineer, the role he held at the time of his retirement 34 years later. Tom was a proud Chrysler Man, and loved to share how his expertise and efficiency in planning steel production helped Chrysler commit to the highest production volume of minivans ever.

Tom was truly a hard worker, but he also loved to play! A huge promoter of Polish dancing, Tom and his wife Jean were the founders of Club Polonia, an organization that promoted Polish picnics and dances. Club Polonia was among the first in the Detroit area to feature Polka bands from Chicago alongside Detroit bands. Their two annual events, the Winter Snow Ball at the Light Guard Armory and Summer Spectacular, a picnic at Warsaw Park, gave the Polish community in Metro Detroit a place to go to share and celebrate their traditions – more specifically to dance, eat, and drink!

Tom will also be remembered for his love of all sports. He was a huge U of M fan and hosted one big tailgate at a football game for many years. When his son, Steve, made the football team in 1986, Tom stepped it up a few notches and his tailgates became regular social events with food enough to feed the army of his children’s friends – especially Jennifer and her Tri Sig sisters from EMU -- and family who would turn up for every home game. He even took the tailgate on the road to East Lansing when his Wolverines took on the MSU Spartans, since his oldest daughter Lori was at State. His hospitality and food preparation earned him the moniker “Tailgate Tom” a nickname that gave him a bit of well-earned swagger!

He didn’t only share his party planning talents at tailgates. Tom always enjoyed time in the kitchen serving home cooked dishes. One event in particular, the Zacharias Family Christmas Party, required an exceptional amount of planning and preparation – with all his siblings and their families in attendance, the event was one of the year’s highlights. Hosted in Hamtramck, Tom, along with his brothers, son and nephews, planned and prepared all the food to feed more than 100 people at the celebration. He also offered his talents for fundraisers for the Rzeszow Dancers, a Polish dance troupe his daughters participated in; at food booths at Polish Festivals benefiting the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH; and as the proprietor of Jeanie's Catering.

Tom was also a talented at woodworking. He could design and fabricate just about any type of furniture from wood, and often “took orders” from his family for specific pieces they needed to fit their homes. He found great reward in the many projects he completed over the years and loved sharing his talents with others – he built many things for his home with Jean, and each of his children and grandchildren have at least one piece designed and created for them by Grandpa Tom.

Tom was an avid mushroom hunter and of course used them in his kitchen creations; he also enjoyed fishing and golf with family and friends, and an occasional Macanudo cigar.

A loving husband, father and grandfather, family meant the world to Tom. He and Jean were married for 55 years, and their commitment to each other through all of life’s ups and downs was a model for their three children – Lori, Steve and Jennifer – all of whom married and have families of their own. Tom had a great affection for each of his sons- and daughter-in-law, and treated them like his own children. He was also one proud Grandpa! He could often be found on the sidelines, in the stands or in the audience of his grandkids’ various football, hockey, baseball, softball, basketball games, swim events and dance recitals. He made being there a priority and found in these events his common ground for connecting with each grandchild. His family is his greatest legacy.

Thomas was the beloved husband of Jean. Dearest father of Lori (Richard) Leonard, Steve (Teri) Zacharias, and Jennifer (Harry) Crane. Loving grandfather of Abigail, Zacharias, Grace, Quinn, Harry, Claire, Sophie and Carmella. Brother of Frank (Marge) Zacharias, Joe (Joann) Zacharias, John (Jean) Zacharias, Sr. Marge Zacharias, brothers and sister in law Owen Tosoian, and John and Delphine Matusiak and preceded in death by siblings: Bernard (Alfreda), Leona (Norbert Nalecz), Rita (Edwin Felczak), Sr, Norbertine, Theresa (Philip Lojek), Stanley (Helen), Esther (Mike Scavo), Judy and Barbara. He was a proud uncle to 42 nieces and nephews. 

A Memorial Visitation for Thomas will be held Sunday, August 1, from 3-9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren. A Memorial Gathering will take place on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until time of the Memorial Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 31555 Hoover Road in Warren, Michigan.

Memorial donations, in memory of Thomas, may be directed to the Sisters of St. Francis, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania, OH 43560, or to www.sistersosf.org.

Please share memories at his guestbook below.