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In the 1930 census, with his mother deceased, Thomas was living with his aunt Maybell Tuttle. Thomas Woodrow McNAMARA Educator, veteran, pugilist, and most of all, family man, Thomas W. McNamara passed away peacefully at his home on March 4, 2006. He had gallantly fought for many months after suffering a stroke and heart attack in June of 2005. Born in Helena, Montana in 1919, Tom was a member of the Greatest Generation, joining the Navy in 1937 and serving till'46. He rose to become Chief Petty Officer on the U.S.S. Kanawha. He enjoyed his time on the "Fightin' Fueler" until it was sunk by a Japanese aerial attack in the South Pacific in 1943. Luckily, Hammerheads and Great Whites weren't prevalent and Tom and most of the crew survived. He stayed close with many of his shipmates and attended a plethora of Kanawha reunions. On leave in 1944 in Seattle, Tom met the love of his life, Jean Bruce, at the Trianon Ballroom. They settled in Seattle to raise a family as Tom used the G.I. Bill and earned a teacher's degree in '51 from the University of Washington. During this time, Tom also boxed professionally as a welterweight. Tom taught from 1951-78, the bulk of those years at Sealth High School in West Seattle where he taught history and drivers education. He was also instrumental in starting the Seattle Teacher's union in the early fifties. Tom's main enjoyment was his family (even more than football) and all four of his sons and their families reside in West Seattle. Some of the best times were at Lake Samish near Bellingham, where Tom and Jean bought a cabin for the family to enjoy. A passionate, lifelong Democrat, Tom wasn't pleased with anything the current administration represents, but he was always willing to listen to someone else's viewpoint. He was honest, fair, and a gentleman with a gentle quip, something his family, friends, and students all recognized. Tom is survived by Jean, his loving wife of 60 years, sons Bruce (Sheila), Dan (Maureen), John (Margaret) and Tom; his eight grandchildren: John, Michael, Stacy, Morgan, Erin, Bonnie, Lisa, and Chanel; and four great grandchildren: Justin, Lennae, Kacy, and Kainoa. Tom was deeply loved and is terribly missed, two signs of a wonderful life. Services will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 7000 35th Ave. SW, on Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. Arrangements entrusted to Yarington's Funeral Home. Published in The Seattle Times on Mar. 9, 2006 |