Thomas J. Scardina

Thomas Scardina, 104, of Colorado Springs, went to be with the Lord on November 16, 2012, surrounded by those who loved him. Thomas was born on September 13, 1908, in Denver. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Josephine Notary Scardina, his siblings, two granddaughters, and a son-in-law. He leaves behind three children: Frank (Patricia), Tom (Barbie), and Jackie (Dan); eight grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and eleven great great-grandchildren.

A dedicated worker with a strong work ethic, Thomas retired from the State of Colorado in 1975, after serving as the supervisor for the Revenue Department for both El Paso and Teller counties. He had worked in many professions in his lengthy career, including building the B-24 bomber during World War II. He received many commendations throughout his life. He will be sorely missed and remembered by all who had the great privilege of knowing him.

There will be a viewing on November 19 from 5:00-7:00 p.m., followed by recitation of the rosary, at Crown Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, W. 29th and Wadsworth, in Denver, CO. Funeral services will be held on November 20, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 3549 N. Navajo St, Denver, Colorado. A reception will follow at Mount Carmel Hall immediately following the funeral mass. Entombment will follow at the Tower of Memories, Crown Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or Pikes Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs.

THE FIRST 100 YEARS

Sunday, September 13, 1908, started out just like any other day, but at 7:00 a.m. on that day in Denver, Colorado Thomas J. Scardina, was born and nothing has been the same since. He was raised in Denver in “The Bottoms,” went to school, and helped with chores at home, worked with his dad, a fruit peddler, in the summer, and I’m sure, teased his sister’s unmercifully, and looked up to his older brother. He was around to witness history like few will ever experience. What wonders; electricity, the radio, cars, indoor plumbing, skyscraper, airplanes, space travel, television, telephones, and, of course, the birth of his three wonderful children!!!!! He was married to Josephine Notary on July 27, 1930. During their married life they live in Denver, Milwaukee, San Francisco, San Diego, and finally Colorado Springs. “Papa” has done so many and varied jobs that people are amazed. Among the jobs he has performed were: worked in a broom factory, in a wholesale grocery store, owned a trucking route to St. Francis, Kansas, was part-owner of a large trucking company, worked in a steel foundry, worked in a fish cannery, was part-owner (along with his brother, Tony) of the longest bar in California at the time, taxi driver, built B-24 Liberator Bomber at Consolidated Aircraft Company in San Diego, worked as an electrician for the City of San Diego, worked in the Election Department for the County of San Diego, worked as a Driver’s License examiner in Denver, and a delivery driver for Harry Hoffman Liquors in Denver, as an Auditor, Investigator and Enforcing Officer in Colorado Springs, and finally a Supervisor for the Department of Revenue for the Colorado Springs area which started in Franktown, covered the area to the west including Breckenridge, and east to the Kansas border. After retiring, he worked part-time for a car rental agency. His accomplishments are even more amazing when you realize he only attended school through the 8th grade, and yet had CPA’s and attorneys working for him. Even at age 100, he still played the stock market, read the paper from cover to cover, maintained a 2-bedroom 2-bath apartment in perfect condition, cooked his own breakfast (bacon, eggs, etc.), and kept all his family on their toes! Tom and “Jo” were married for 57 years. Sadly, Josephine died on February 25, 1987. After living as a widower, he met Zelma Letsch, and they were married on April 5, 1990. Zelma passed away on June 15, 2006. We are all very proud of his accomplishments, but we especially treasure him as our dad, papa, great –papa, and great great- papa. He loved his family dearly, and was always there for us, encouraging us or reprimanding us as needed.

So, when we are all gathered to celebrate 100 years in the life of a very special man, his family had grown from his three children to include 10 grandchildren, and 8 great great-grandchildren, with one great grandson on the way. He spoke often of his beloved “Jo”, and his brothers and sisters who are all deceased, and reminisced often about the picnics and family gatherings, missing the times when “we could all be together.”