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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Webmaster Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of Three |
Obituaries
M. Donald Thomas M. Donald Thomas, 70, of Chestnut Hill, died June 14, leaving the community short one very hardworking, do-it-all kind of a guy. Donny Thomas, always seen in a cowboy hat or a baseball cap, was a familiar site on the Hill, often behind the wheel of his truck, with the American flags flying. Mr. Thomas worked for Frank Holmes Landscaping in Lafayette Hill for more than 30 years, and was passionate about gardening. After he retired, he continued doing landscaping and handy man work around the area. He and his pal “Stretch” Hendrie worked for the Chestnut Hill Business Association, setting up and breaking down for the various festivals. They were known, simply, as “Stretch and Donny.” “Donny was an old-school type of guy,” Hendrie said. “He was an honest guy. He was a hard worker.” His family agreed, saying Mr. Thomas never gave a thought to truly retiring. His second home was the Chestnut Hill Bocce Club, where he was a member for more than 40 years. There, he held many positions, including president. He was often heard to say that his friends there, where he met Hendrie decades ago, were the best and most loyal. He particularly enjoyed helping with the fundraising, organizing and running of the club’s July 4 celebration for children, with a parade and games at the Water Tower. Mr. Thomas also enjoyed cooking and woodwork, crafting furniture, clocks, mantles and other objects from trees he was hired to take down. He was born in Coopersburg, Pa., one of 16 children. He moved to Chestnut Hill in 1964 after his July 1963 marriage to Sandra A. Barthold, who survives him. Other survivors include a son, M. Donald, Jr.; two daughters, Susan Samson and Keri Ann Focht; brothers and sisters, and five grandchildren, Alli and Matt Samson, and Mandy, Caity and Samantha Focht. A funeral was held June 20, with interment in Ivy Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chestnut Hill Bocce Club, 118 E. Hartwell Lane, Philaelphia, PA 19118.
John Anthony Miller III, 76, an elementary school teacher at Germantown Friends School and Chestnut Hill Academy, died June 13 after a long illness, at Cathedral Village, in Roxborough. Before to moving the retirement community, Mr. Miller and his wife, Gainor Ingersoll, lived in West Mount Airy. Mr. Miller taught at GFS for 18 years, and a decade at CHA. He retired form GFS as a Master Teacher in 1983. He was adept at engaging a class — old transcripts of radio mystery shows became lessons for the short story; history was presented as breaking news broadcasts from the sound booth he built in the classroom. Each year began with a camping trip and culminated in an elaborate Shakespeare stage production. Students are especially likely to remember his weekly “Big Dog Award,” honoring a student for some untold achievement. Mr. Miller had a lifelong love of music, playing the clarinet and the piano. He studied music composition at the University of Pennsylvania before he began teaching. He graduated with honors from Swarthmore College in 1952 after attending Columbia University as a freshman on a football scholarship. He excelled in football and track at Ridley Park High School. In addition to his wife, Mr. Miller is survived by a daughter, Wister; three stepchildren, Clarkson Schoettle, Marian Schoettle and Anna Schoettle, and six grandchildren. His brothers, Glenn and Frank, and sister Anne predeceased him. Family and friends are invited to gather in Mr. Miller’s memory in Presser Lounge, Cathedral Village, at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 25. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple University Radio Station, WRTI, 1509 Cecil B. Moore Ave., Third Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19121 or to www.wrti.org. Diane Connolly Diane C. Connolly, executive director of Northwest Human Services of Philadelphia, died June 15 of ovarian cancer. She was 55 and a resident of Mount Airy. Mrs. Connolly, who had held her post since 2001, was forced by her illness to stop going into the office in December. However, she continued to work from home through the spring, demonstrating the grit and commitment for which she was so well known. She had been with NHS of Philadelphia since 1991, when she became assistant director of Iris House. She was named director of Iris House in 1994, then moved on to positions of greater responsibility before taking the helm at NHS. NHS, which originated in Philadelphia, runs programs throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Ohio, offering social services and mental health care to nearly 50,000 children and adults annually. Mrs. Connolly grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, the daughter of Frances and Joseph Kelly, and graduated from Nazareth Academy. She held a bachelor’s from La Salle University, a master’s from West Chester University and a doctorate from Immaculata University, all in psychology. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Timothy J. Connolly; a son, Joseph; two daughters, Lauren and Regina; two sisters, Eileen Kelly and Sharon McHugh (Robert), and two brothers, Michael and Brian (Jane). A funeral Mass was celebrated June 19 at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, in Mount Airy. Interment took place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Northwest Human Services, 620 Germantown Ave., Lafayette Hill, PA 19444. |
