was born in Easton PA in 1920. He was the fourth of seven siblings born to Isidoro and
Josephine (nee Vitale) Mineo, both immigrants from Sicily. Tom was an accomplished
saxophone player when he graduated from Easton High School. After High School Tom
attended Lafayette College. During his school years he worked in his father’s Italian specialty
grocery store. He recalled that, before his High School years, wagons pulled by horses were
common in Easton but they were all gone by the time he graduated.
Before WWII Tom played saxophone professionally with a “Big Band” in the summers at a resort
in the Poconos and also locally in the Easton area. He met his wife Eleanor at one of those
performances. They married August 15, 1942 as the war was beginning. Tom left college and
gave up his saxophone to serve his country in time of war. After rigorous training in Boca Raton
and at Yale University he was commissioned a lieutenant in the US Army Air Force serving as a
photographic officer. He commanded units that prepared bomber cameras before, and
developed the pictures after, bombing missions. His work also included mapping of the testing
area in Los Alamos in connection with the Manhattan Project.
Tom and Eleanor had three children, Thomas in 1944, James in 1946 and Josephine in 1951.
After his discharge from the Army with the rank of Captain, Tom found his niche as a salesman.
At various times he sold appliances, insurance and investment products finishing his career with
a long tenure at Sears Roebuck selling home appliances. He was a master of every appliance
from washers to sewing machines.
At the age of 62 he and Eleanor retired to the seashore, buying a new home in the Fawn Lakes
section of Manahawkin NJ where they were active members of the community, Tom as
Condominium President and Eleanor as President of the Women’s Club. Tom also resumed his
musical career. He played the sax in several bands over the years. Up until the beginning of
the Covid pandemic Tom and his band played every Wednesday morning at a nursing home
where he was older than most, if not all, of the audience
.
Since his beloved Eleanor passed away in 2010 Tom has lived independently in his home. He
had lots of family visits but managed his own affairs right up to the end.
He was preceded in death by his wife R. Eleanor and his son James I. Mineo. He is survived by
his son Thomas (Kristine) Mineo and his daughter Josephine (Jeph) Harrison; eight
grandchildren: Christopher (Nancy) Mineo, Liz Mineo Genge, Kit (Janet) Harrison, Marc (Christi)
Harrison, Kate (Dan) McCarney, Eleanor (Randy) Bly, Tessa Harrison (Jacob Aptekar) and Tom
Harrison (Emmy Crissman). He has fourteen great grandchildren: Matthew Mineo, Michael
Mineo, Olivia Harrison, Alistair Harrison, Agatha Harrison, Isla Harrison, Isabella Harrison,
Jimmy Harrison, Rosie Harrison, Jack McCarney, Brody McCarney, Emmett Bly, Lydia Bly and
Cecilia Aptekar.
A visitation will take place on Friday August 20 at St Mary's of The Pine church 100 Bishop Way Manahawkin N.J. 08050 at 3PM until the funeral mass at 4PM. Condolences may be sent to our website at WWW.shinnfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions in his name be made to his favorite charity, The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html .
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