Thomas passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving children on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Villas, New Jersey. Thomas was born in Southwest Philadelphia, PA, on March 10,1937 to Natalie and Thomas. Thomas attended Most Blessed Sacrament grade school and West Catholic High School in Philadelphia.

Right out of high school, Thomas joined the United States Air Force serving in North Dakota and Okinawa, Japan. He had an honorary discharge with a medal of good behavior. When Tom returned, he started working at The Philadelphia Inquirer and received his apprenticeship as a General Foreman of the Composing Room. Thomas thoroughly enjoyed working for the Philadelphia Inquirer for 47 years, where he met so many great lifelong and dear friends. Tom took American Sign Language courses, where he became fluent, so to communicate with his hearing-impaired family members and co-workers. Tom retired in December 2000.

Thomas was an avid skier and thoroughly enjoyed fishing, crabbing, ballroom dancing, bowling, playing pinochle and going on cruises. He enjoyed setting sail on his catamaran on the Chesapeake Bay. Thomas spent 45 summers having great fun at his Seaville Shores Campground where he met many dear friends who became a close family to him.

Thomas was proud to be a Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus and a Grand Knight for his council. He also spent many years as a Eucharist minister.

One of his personal achievements was taking a pilgrimage to the village of Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina to see Our Lady of Medjugorje, also called Queen of Peace and Mother of the Redeemer.

Thomas is survived by his loving children: Joseph C. Chiaffa; Patti Palumbo; Margie Guidetti (Darren); Christian Chiaffa; daughter-in-law Daria Chiaffa. Thomas was the proud Popsy to his grandchildren: Diandra (Shawn), Nicky (Chrissy), Alexa (Joe), Anthony (Jessica) and Danny (Kelli). Thomas' legacy further lives on through his 8 great-grandchildren: Tristan, Maddi, Dominic, Ryan, Annalea, Tommy, Sophia and Luca, who brought him immeasurable joy. Thomas is survived by his loving sisters Marianne Suriani and Joan Liberi. Preceding Thomas in death were his loving parents Natalie and Thomas; brothers Michael and Samuel; sister Caroline; his son, Tommy.