Thomas J. Zoltek

Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, on May 14, 1951, to John and Lucille Zoltek, Tom was the second of six children. Tom graduated from Immaculata High School in Somerville, NJ in 1969. He went on to Rutgers University, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences in 1973. Tom then embarked on a life of service and travel by joining the United States Air Force. His military journey brought him to Southern California, where he worked at the VA Hospital in Long Beach while earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach in 1979.

This marked the start of a distinguished 40-year career as an electrical engineer, much of it spent with Rockwell International (Collins Airspace). Rockwell relocated Tom from Southern California to Dallas in 1988, where he later earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University in 1997. At Rockwell, he also met and married the love of his life, Laurie. Aside from a few years spent in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, Tom proudly made Texas his lifelong home.

Tom was an engineer through and through. He loved technology and eagerly passed his passion for computers down to his children and grandchildren. An avid train enthusiast, Tom was a dedicated member of the National Railway Historical Society and seized every opportunity to ride trains of all shapes and sizes.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 26 years, Laurie; his six children: Alicia (Denis) Saussus of Antwerp, Belgium; Sean (Qimei Luo) Zoltek of Tustin, California; Matt (Dana) Younger of Farmers Branch, Texas; Tara (Dustin Kaster) Zoltek of Media, Pennsylvania; Emily (Lance) Hubbard of Weatherford, Texas; and Luke (Kendall) Younger of Dallas, Texas; along with 13 grandchildren, all of whom will miss him dearly.

A memorial service celebrating Tom’s exceptional life will be held on August 10th at Calvary Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery in Dallas, TX. A viewing will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:35 AM, and interment at 1:15 PM at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. We invite all who knew and loved Tom to join us in honoring his memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Railway Historical Society (505 South Lenola Road, Suite 226, Moorestown, NJ 08057 or online at secure.nrhs.com/forms/giving) or to a charity of your choice.