Obituary of Thomas J. Raslavsky

U.S. Marine Corp Veteran On Wednesday, September 14, 2011, Thomas J. Raslavsky, son of the late Paul and Elizabeth Raslavsky, died after a long struggle with emphysema. An ex Marine, Tom was a retired Fairfield teacher. He was very proud of having returned to high school at the age of 26 and earning his Bachelors and then Masters Degrees in Modern American Literature and Linguistics, all the while supporting a family of four in a six year period. While in high school, Tom received a congressional appointment as an alternate to West Point Military Academy. He did not attend West Point. He was a Lucas Scholar and a Dana Scholar at the University of Bridgeport. In Fairfield, Tom led several system wide projects concentrating on staff evaluation and training. He made several presentations to the entire professional staff (several hundred) and addressed the state legislature in Hartford. Tom developed and piloted a course in Expository Writing which after very positive staff feedback became a requirement for students in their junior year. One year, two of his English course students placed first and second respectively in a statewide Law Day essay contest. A strong believer in volunteerism among young people, he initiated a group, YACS (Youths for the American Cancer Society) which began with a handful of students. Since then the group swelled to become one of the most active group organizations at Fairfield High School. The groups success resulted in it becoming an approved activity for all the states high schools. It now functions on a national level with chapters stretching to California. Tom earned special certification to train new teachers and was privileged to assist several into the profession. He was also an award winning member of the adjunct faculty at Teikyo Post University. He earned certification from Edison College in New Jersey to teach and demonstrate speed reading. He served on the executive board of The American Cancer Society of Eastern Fairfield County and chaired the publicity committee receiving an outstanding volunteer award for his service there. Tom was a former vice-president of the Fairfield Education Association. After retirement, he worked at Smith Richardson Golf Course. A sports enthusiast, he coached Little League and flag football in Shelton. He was selected to play on a Marine Corps all star basketball team. As a golfer, he won three club championships in his flights in Fairfield and Florida and was runner-up in a city open tournament in Florida. His golfing success was accomplished while wearing oxygen tanks. Also in the Marines, Tom boxed in bimonthly smokers. He served as the varsity tennis coach in Fairfield for the boys and girls teams respectively for 15 years. He is survived by his devoted wife, Julie DiNardo Raslavsky, his loving daughter, Laura Harvey, a sister, Mary Jane Piacentini (Mario), brother, Arthur Raslvsky (Rosemary). He also leaves behind three nephews. Tom was pre-deceased by his beloved and treasured son, Tom Jr. The delight and joy of his life in recent years were his precious grandsons, Brandon and Alex Harvey, two very talented and loving boys whose hugs and I love you Pop brightened may otherwise gray days. Tom had great pride in their computer skills and their academic success. Tom leaves his gratitude for his many friends including his teaching colleagues who supported him in so many ways over the years during his sons illness. An extraordinary thanks to his special friends from childhood, Richard and Shirley Toth, Richard and Joan Ripke. A special thanks goes to Dr. Wayne Levin and his staff for their sensitive, compassionate care. Funeral Information Funeral services will take place on Friday, September 16, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. from the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull and at 11:30 a.m. in St. Lawrence Church, Shelton for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may call on Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Donations Information In lieu of flowers, Tom has requested donations in memory of Thomas J. Raslavsky Jr., Toms late son, to Camp Rising Sun, c/o The American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Meriden, CT 06450. This is a summer camp for childhood cancer patients. Tom Jr. was a counselor there.