Thomas Stim

Dr. Thomas B. Stim died peacefully in his sleep on March 27, 2021 at the age of 91.

Tom was a faithful Byzantine Catholic and member of both St. Michael the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church, Mont Clare, PA and St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church, Maple Glen, PA. He was born in 1929 in Johnstown, PA, and grew up near Wilkes-Barre, PA (Taylor, Forrest City and Jessup). As an adult, he lived in many places, mainly in or near West Point, PA, Buffalo, NY, Branford, CT, Clifton Park, NY and Ambler, PA.

He earned his BS in Biology from the University of Scranton, MA in Bacteriology from the University of Texas at Austin, and PhD in Immunology from Duke University. Tom is a veteran of the US Army and served as a research scientist at Fort Detrick, MD. He retired from Johnson & Johnson in 1997 after 16 years of service.

Tom met his beloved wife, the former Helju Torop, while working at Merck Pharmaceuticals. He married Helju in 1962 and remained devoted to her even after her death in 2019.

Tom is survived by his children, USAF (Retired) Major Christopher Stim of Warminster, PA, Andrew Stim (Priscilla House) of Doylestown, PA, Susan Stim (Darren VanHouten) of Pittsford, NY, and Alicia Marigliano (Peter) of Alexandria, VA; grandchildren Sarah, Caroline, and John Stim; Ellie and Lila VanHouten; and Emma, Annika, Sofia, and Cecilia Marigliano.

He is preceded in death by his wife; his parents, the Rev. Andrew and Julia Stim; his uncle, Msgr. John Stim; and his sister, Sr. Andrea Marie Stim, of the Incarnation, M.S.B.T.

Tom loved his family and relished in the energy and joy of spending time with them. He was humble, kind, and generous in both spirit and heart. His grandchildren will remember their “Grampie" or "Grandpa” for his sense of humor and devotion.

A viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, 2021, from 9:00am to 9:50am at St Michael the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church in Mont Clare, PA. Office of Christian Burial with Divine Liturgy will start at 10:00am. Internment services will be at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church Cemetery, Nesquehoning, PA at 1:30pm. Devlin, Rosmos, Kepp & Gatcha Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.gatchafuneral.com).  A memorial gathering will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Tom to one of the following: St. Michael the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church, 203 Jacobs St. Mont Clare, PA  19453 (https://stmichaelbyzantine.org/); Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA, 18901 (www.dementiasociety.org); or the Lake George Land Conservancy, 4905 Lake Shore Dr., PO Box 1250, Bolton Landing, NY, 12814 (www.lglc.org).