Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

Thomas Lewis Jones Jr., 77, of Pittsburgh, PA, died on Friday March 20, 2020 at the Southwest Veterans Center.

Thom was born on January 28, 1943 to Thomas Lewis Jones Sr. and Anna Mae (Zitzman) Jones in Whitehall, PA. He enrolled in Allegheny College, but left after one year to join the United States Army. There Thom served in the Armed Forces Expedition: Dominican Republic. At the time of discharge, he was assigned to the Headquarter and Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 321st Artillery, 3rd US Army. After completing his tour of duty, Thom enrolled at Syracuse University to complete his studies. At Syracuse, Thom was proud to serve as editor of the Syracuse Daily Orange before marching with the graduating class of 1969.

From Syracuse, Thom moved to Manhattan to accept a position at Time Life, Inc. as a photographer for Sports Illustrated and documentary filmmaker for Time Life. While in New York, Thom acted in several off-Broadway plays and later performed in London.

In 1985, Thom returned to Pittsburgh to help his mother care for his ailing father. There he continued what would become a lifelong commitment to public service, first as an EMT and then as volunteer fireman for the Whitehall Fire Department. Later in life, he led the Monongahela River Chapter of the Louis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, building awareness that the famous pair began their expedition in Pittsburgh. For several years, Thom volunteered weekly at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, spending time with young cancer patients, reading to, playing with and encouraging them. He also volunteered as a coordinator for the Veterans’ Breakfast Club and was an active member of the Neighborhood on the Mount.

In his free time, Thom loved exploring parts of the world many never see, as a certified divemaster and rescue diver. To introduce others to his passion, Thom produced and directed a television special starring actor Christopher Reeves

Thom spent his final years with his sister Ann Jones Gerace as part of the Providence Point community in Pittsburgh. He is survived by Ann; his sister Mary Lou Herrold (Dan) of Mansfield, Ohio; his six nieces and nephews and their children. Thom is interred at The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. A ceremony honoring Thom’s military service and celebration of his life will be held when friends and family can gather safely in late summer. Arrangements made by the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc. Please write HonoringThom@gmail.com to be kept informed of those details. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations honoring Thom’s memory be made to the Southwest Veterans’ Center Residents’ Welfare Fund, DMVA Office for Veterans Affairs, Bldg. 0-47, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002, or to the Hillman Cancer Center at 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.