Thomas Edward (Tom) Pampush, DDS

Thomas Edward (Tom) Pampush, DDS, age 93, died on May 15, 2021 in Akron, Ohio.
Tom was born in Lakewood, Ohio on December 15, 1927 to Joseph and Agnes (Thomas) Pampush.
Tom graduated from Lakewood High School in 1945.  He graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati and from St. Louis University where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.
Following his graduation from St. Louis University, Tom enlisted in the Navy where he was a lieutenant.  He served at USNTC Bainbridge in Maryland.  Here, he met Teresa Nemanick of Eveleth, Minnesota, who was a Naval nurse also stationed at Bainbridge.  Tom and Tess married in 1952 and raised a family of six in Lakewood and later, Rocky River, Ohio.  Tom was proud of his service to his country and encouraged anyone within hearing distance to consider making this contribution to our country.  Two of his sons took him up on it, with one in the Air Force and another following Tom’s footsteps into the Navy.
Tom and Tess (T&T to many) raised six boisterous kids.  They attended their kids’ Little League games in April despite cold winds blowing off Lake Erie.  Tom later managed Pony League teams for some of his sons.  He treated each of the young men on those teams as one of his own.  Tom’s counsel for his own children—a requirement, really—was that each child participate in some extra-curricular activity in school.  The activity could be any one of 100 clubs or sports offered, but he wanted each child to put himself on the line and participate.  Later in life, Tom and Tess together provided love and guidance to each of their grandchildren as well.
As Tom’s kids became young adults and started their careers, T&T made a point of visiting each child as he or she moved from Rocky River to Costa Rica, and later Argentina, and then Wisconsin; from Chapel Hill to Atlanta; from Colorado, to Atlanta, and then to Cincinnati; and from Cleveland to Florida.
As a dentist, Tom was a scholar and an artist.  He contributed articles to the various professional dental journals.  Tom was most pleased with those articles that also were illustrated with his own technical photos.  Photography was an interest of his since his own boyhood, and Tom was proficient in developing film and making final prints.  Tom’s dental craftsmanship and care was apparent in each of his patients, some of whom were high-school chums.  Tom and Tess teamed up to make a patient’s visit to the dentist less daunting, if not enjoyable.  The sale of his practice upon his retirement to Dr. Lisa Tyler made yet another lifelong friend for him and of course for Tess.
Tom was an Elk (Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks) and received his 60-year membership pin in 2020.  For many years, he and Tess enjoyed the Elks’ bowling leagues and dinners with their many friends at the club.  At the Elks, Tom and Tess taught their children how to eat in a nice restaurant, bowl, play pool, and be polite in a social setting.
Tom enjoyed a round of golf, which he often played with his brothers Bill and Bob and his brother-in-law Terry O’Connor.  Tom had some sort of racquetball competition with his older brother Jim where one or the other occasionally went home with stitches.
Tom was pre-deceased by his beloved wife, Tess (November, 2019) and by his father Joseph (1954), mother Agnes (1975), brother James (1982) and sister Ruth (1993).
Surviving siblings are his brothers William (Jean); Robert (Barbara); and sister Carol O’Connor (Terrance, deceased).  Tom is also survived by his children, Christine Aster (Dennis) of Lakewood Ranch, Florida; Francis (Aki) of Atlanta, Georgia; Joseph (Cynthia) of Rocky River, Ohio;  Leslie Reigel (Daniel, deceased) of Marshfield, Wisconsin; Michael (Shelley) of Cincinnati; and Charles (Dawn) of North Ridgeville, Ohio.  Tom is also survived by his fourteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Thomas Edward Pampush will be laid to rest alongside Teresa Nemanick Pampush on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 10:45 am at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Rd. Seville, Ohio 44273.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wounded Warriors Project.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas Edward (Tom) Pampush, DDS, please visit our floral store.