Thomas Francis Zimorski

Thomas Francis Zimorski, 75, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 2, 2022, in Clemson, South Carolina following the N.C. State and Clemson University football game. He was a devoted husband, proud father, loving brother, loyal friend, and true gentleman of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Tom was born in Jackson, Michigan on October 26, 1946, to Raymond Anthony Zimorski and Ruth Daly Zimorski. In 1955, the family moved to Orlando, Florida where he grew up and attended Bishop Moore Catholic High School.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida and was a brother in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He earned his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Virginia in 1973. After graduating, Tom began teaching and coaching football in Charlottesville City Schools. He then joined the new Western Albemarle High School faculty and coached football and golf, which he enjoyed so much he routinely joked that he would have coached for free. Tom transitioned into school administration serving as Assistant Principal at Henley Middle School, Principal at Burley Middle School and oversaw the opening of Sutherland Middle School as Principal. Tom retired in 2000 after 30 years in the Central Virginia public school system and went to work with the Virginia High School League (VHSL), first as the Assistant Director for Compliance before being named Deputy Director in 2002. He retired from the VHSL in 2013.

Tom was well known and respected throughout Central Virginia and the mid-Atlantic for his knowledge of and experience with the game of football. He spent decades as a football official; initially for high school, then college, first with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference then the Atlantic 10 Conference. In 2000, he was thrilled to be asked to join the Atlantic Coast Conference as a Referee. He officiated over 150 games as a Referee on the field, including numerous bowl games before moving into the role of Instant Replay Official where he worked until the day he died. Tom’s skills, expertise and contributions were recognized with abundant awards and accolades throughout both his educational and officiating careers.

In his spare time, Tom loved playing golf in and around Central Virginia and on the ever-temperamental links in Scotland and Ireland. In his retirement he learned to play the guitar, developed a passion for fly fishing, became a wine enthusiast and was an avid wildlife and nature photographer.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Ruth, and his parents-in-law, Robert and Dorothy MacGill. Tom leaves behind his beloved wife of 51 years, Carol; cherished daughters, Sara and Jill; adored sisters Mary, Julie (Bob) and Martha (Jim); sister-in-law Jan (Fred), numerous cool nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 401 Alderman Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22903. Following the service, the family invites friends to join them at a reception to celebrate Tom’s wonderful and well-lived life, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in The Hearth Room at The Boar’s Head Inn, 200 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903.

Tom was known throughout his life for his generosity and selflessness, and as an organ donor, was able to maintain those traits even after his death.

The family wishes to express sincere appreciation and gratitude to all who have reached out to them. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Tom’s honor to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., (www.projecthealingwaters.org), or to First Tee Virginia of the Blue Ridge (www.firstteevirginiablueridge.org).