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Tom Magoto Sr
Tom Magoto Sr, age 89, of Versailles OH passed away on Friday, October
24, 2014 at 5:10 PM at the Versailles Health Care Center. Tom was
born Jan. 17, 1925 in Darke County, OH to the late Raymond “Frenchie”
and Zita (Dapore) Magoto.
Tom is survived by his wife of 65 years, Norma J (Cox) Magoto whom he
married on Jan. 28, 1949; sons & daughters-in-law Tom Jr “Butch”
and Shila (Dapore) Magoto of Versailles; Jim and Sharon
(Garrison) Magoto of Versailles; daughters and sons-in-law Teresa and
Nick Knapke of Versailles, Jan and Andy Knapke of Versailles, and Missy
and Jon Brooks of Miamisburg, OH; Grandchildren: Wendolyn (Magoto) Groff
of Mocksville, NC; Mandy (Magoto) Egan of Los Angeles, CA; Kim (Magoto)
Brooks of Versailles; John Magoto of Denver, CO; Brian Magoto of Minot,
ND; Mike Williams of Versailles; Tim Magoto of Franklin, OH; Jenny
(Magoto) Subler of Versailles; Adam Keiser of Versailles, Danielle
Keiser of Covington, OH; Alex Brooks of Miamisburg, OH and Jake Brooks
of Miamisburg, OH; 20 great-grandchildren: Logan, Makenna, Xaiden and
Kiahna Groff, Graham Egan, Adia, Kierce, Nigel and Xavier Brooks,
Katie, James and Alex Magoto, Matthew, Jack, Henry and Grace Subler,
Cody and Conner Williams and Bryson and Colten Keiser; Brothers and
sister-in-law Dave Magoto of Versailles and Frank and Judy Magoto of
Versailles; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Tom was also preceded in death by his
sisters and brothers-in-law Alice and Jim “Chick” Swisher; Julie and
Mike Hiatt; and brother and sister-in-law Dick and Dottie Magato.
Tom graduated from Versailles High School with the Class of 1943.
He attended Miami University in 1943 for a semester, and then was
drafted into the U.S. Army. Tom served from 1943 to 1946 in
France and Germany and the Rhine River to Austria, fighting in the
Battle of The Bulge and the Battle of the Rhine River. He served
in General Patton’s 3rd Army, 93rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squad in the
13th Division and received the following awards: American Theater
Ribbon, EAME Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars, the Good Conduct
Medal and the Victory Medal World War II. After returning home
from WWII he went back to Miami University in 1946 and graduated in
1950 with a BS in education. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau
fraternity.
Tom then began working with the Darke County Health Department as a
sanitarian in 1950 and this was the beginning of his 42 year career
with the Ohio Department of Health. During these 42 years he
advanced from county sanitarian to Dayton Southwest District Sanitarian
to Chief of Accident Prevention and Safety in Columbus and retired in
November 1972 as the Chief of Environmental Safety for the Ohio
Department of Health in Columbus, OH. He was instrumental in
implementing many new and innovative safety programs for the Ohio
Department of Health. One of the best known of these safety
programs is the Heimlich Maneuver. Tom was trained by Dr. Henry
Heimlich and then Tom implemented the Heimlich maneuver instructions
throughout the State of Ohio. Tom was on the adjunct faculty at
Wright State University and spoke many times to Professor Jim Lucas’s
students during the 1970’s and 1980’s. He is a past president of
the Ohio Environmental Health Association, past director of the
National Environmental Health Association, and commissioned in the
Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some of the many awards he
received include the prestigious National Environmental Health
Association Award and the Ohio Public Health Association Award.
Two of his best friends and business associates were Jim Lucas and John
Todd.
Tom was also a member of the VFW and American Legion. He was
proud to have served as the Master of Ceremonies (emcee) at the
Versailles Memorial Day Services for over 36 years. He was one of
the founding fathers of the Versailles Youth Baseball Programs.
Tom was the “Voice of the Tigers” for 52 years as the public address
announcer at the home Versailles football games. Tom was the
Quarterback for the 1942 first ever undefeated and untied Versailles
football team. He was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church where
he was an usher for many years. He was a member of the St. Denis K of C
and a member of the Versailles Eagles. He was very active as a
baseball and softball player for many years, and was also an umpire and
officiated basketball and football games.
He was proud of his strong family association with his wife and
children and grandchildren. A favorite activity that he enjoyed
with his wife, Norma was Ballroom Dancing and Big Band music.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2014
at 10:30 AM at St. Denis Catholic Church in Versailles with Rev. Jim
Simons celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Valbert Cemetery in
Versailles with Military Honors conducted by the Versailles Veterans
Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October
28, 2014 from 4-8 PM at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles,
OH. There will be a prayer service conducted by the Versailles K
of C on Tuesday at 7:45 PM at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Autism Society of Dayton,
Alzheimer’s Association or American Diabetes Association.
Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbaily.com.
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