Journey's end

Janice Mitts Thomas

On Thursday December 12, 2024, Jan Thomas, left us to join her husband, Cecil Thomas who passed just three weeks earlier on November 22, 2024. Jan was the daughter of Jessie and Donald Mitts.

Jan was beloved for her kindness and genuine concern for others. She loved learning and teaching biology to high schoolers. She spent 30 years at Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio before moving to teach at Whitfield School and Rosati-Kain Catholic School in St Louis, MO. Watching her students learn, thrive, and grow to reach their potential was one of her true pleasures in life.

 She was a Deacon at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland and was active in Stevens Ministry at Ladue Chapel in St Louis. She believed in good works and focused on ways to help members of her community.

Jan was a flower child at heart who looked like she fell directly out of a Talbots catalog. She loved yoga and traveled whenever she possibly could. Mom loved going to the theater and attending the ballet with my father and her friends. She is remembered for her beautiful smile and for always asking “what can I do to help?” She had a subtle and wry sense of humor and a joyful laugh.

She was the grandmother who unhesitatingly climbed into a helicopter with her grandchildren to see the Grand Canyon or to fly over NYC. Mom loved going to ball games and truly treasured her grandchildren.

She lives in the hearts of two daughters, Julie Greer Thomas and Tina Bordonaro, six grandchildren; Jessica Greer Dillon, Max Greer, Griffith Greer, Sam Greer, Christopher Bordonaro, Jack Bordonaro; four great grandchildren; Isla Greer, Rowan Greer, Eden Greer, and Josie Dillon. She had many beloved nieces and nephews, a wonderful extended family, and so many very dear friends. Her siblings Rosemary Culbertson, Bob Mitts, and Donnie Mitts, were among her very favorite people in the world. Her husband of over 60 years, Cecil Thomas, was her universe. They are back together now.

Cecil Wayne Thomas 

Jan's husband, Cecil Thomas, passed away November 22, 2024 at his daughter's home in Virginia. He had colon cancer.

Cecil was born in his parent's Kentucky home on May 17, 1941 in Dry Ridge. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janice Mitts Thomas; two daughters: Julie Greer Thomas (David) and Tina Bordonaro; 6 grandchildren: Jessica Greer Dillon, Max Greer, Gritffith Greer, Sam Greer, Christopher Bordonaro, and Jack Bordonaro; and 4 great grandchildren: Isla Greer, Rowan Greer, Eden Greer, and Josie Dillon.

Cecil Thomas lived a remarkable life as the eighth of nine children in a rural Kentucky farm family, a young drive-in movie projectionist, an electrical engineer at Martin Marietta Corp, and a professor of Biomedical Engineering. Cecil Thomas helped found BME programs at universities on three continents. His engineering company accepted diverse projects ranging from visual perception to development of a pediatric EKG and computer design for a mural at the Philadelphia train station. He applied his engineering skills to help people in Haiti and on American Indian reservations. Cecil Thomas was also a prolific author of fiction and short stories.

A man of science and logic who eschewed organized religion for much of his younger years, Cecil developed respect lor the practice of a diversity of religions and belief systems in later life. He was loved for his delightfully quirky sense of humor. He enjoyed nature and music and teaching his grandsons about the mathematics underlying his favorite jazz compositions. A true teacher at heart, Cecil loved watching kids (students, neighbors, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews) grow to become the people they were meant to be. Kids knew him for his magic tricks including the illusion of removing a fingertip and playing songs using his hands as a wind instrument. His students often stayed in touch for decades and became good friends. 

As Cecil neared the end of his battle with a third form of cancer, he smiled knowing that his grandson, Jack, and Catholic school friends were praying for him. He laughed really hard when another grandson, Christopher, remarked that Cecil would “finally be able to learn who is right."

ln accordance with his wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. He simply asked to have his ashes scattered close to home. If you wish to make a donation in his honor, Cecil's favorite charity was Meds and Food for Kids, a group providing for children in Haiti. Enjoying nature or one of his many novels would be other great ways to remember him and celebrate the incredible journey he and his very loving wife of over 60 years, Janice Mitts Thomas, enjoyed together.