Obituary of Thomas Edward Wallace

Thomas Edward Wallace – born in Wildwood, NJ on January 22, 1945; raised on Schellenger's Island at the family-owned Anchorage Inn. Tom attended Star of the Sea School, Wildwood Catholic High School, Mt St Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD, graduating with a BS in Education in 1968, and The Catholic University of America in DC, graduating with a MFA in Theater. Tom was a teacher of English and Theater Arts at Middle Township High School for 32 years. Tom revived theater life at Middle Township High school through his many plays and musicals, the drama club, and theater classes. Tom was an adjunct professor at Atlantic Cape Community College. Tom was also integral in the restoration of Flynn Hall, now the Delaplaine Fine Arts Canter at Mt St Mary's University. Tom was a devout Catholic and a member of St John Neumann Parish in N Cape May. He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Treasurer of Stella Maris Council #3546, and was 4th Degree Assembly #671 Msgr. Moroney of Wildwood. Tom was also a church lector, choir member, pre-Cana presenter, and CCD administrator in earlier years. Tom served in the US Navy for 11 years as a reservist and an active duty yeoman. He was a Vietnam Veteran. Tom died on Thursday, May 18, 2017 in Charleston, SC with his family by his side. Tom is admired, deeply loved, and missed by his family and many friends. He is survived by his wife of 47 years: Helen Flatley Wallace of N Cape May; his children: Colleen Wallace Shoemaker of Goose Creek, SC, Kathleen Marie Wallace of Manhattan, NY, and Andrew Thomas Wallace of Villas, NJ. His grandchildren: Helen Marie, Carl Wilhelm, and Nora Elizabeth Shoemaker, all of South Carolina, loved their "silly Grandpa". Tom is also deeply mourned by his brother, George Henry Wallace, Jr. and his wife Margaret of New Bern, NC. He is survived by 39 nieces and nephews and many grandnieces and nephews. Tom was predeceased by his parents, George Henry Wallace, Sr. and Marie Doran Wallace, and by his sisters Patricia Whitten and Catherine Wallace. Services will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at St John of God RC Church, 680 Townbank Rd, N Cape May, NJ 08204. Visitation is at 9:45 AM followed by Mass at 11:00 AM and interment in St Mary's Cemetery. Donations in Tom's Name can be made to Knights of Columbus Stella Maris Council #3546 Scholarship Fund, 324 Breakwater Rd, Erma, NJ 08204, or to Mt St Mary's University, 16300 Old Emmitsburg Rd, Emmitsburg, MD 21727; please write "Tom Wallace '68" on the check memo.