Thomas J. Glessner, EAIA, 93, of Ridley Township passed from this earth to be with his Lord surrounded by his family on March 24, 2020 from natural causes at his elder son's home in Mechanicsburg, PA. Born July 5th, 1926 in Chester, PA, he was the second son of Henry and Sophie Glessner also of Chester. He resided in Ridley Township, Delaware County since August 1953.

Tom (known by friends and relatives as 'Tomie') attended Resurrection School and graduated from Chester High School in 1943 and joined Sun Oil Company (Sun) as a ditch digger in August of that year. Tomie joined the United States Navy in April 1944 as a Third Class Sailor turret/ordinance technician flying in Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateers and Curtiss SB2C Helldivers until his June 1946 honorable discharge.

Tomie returned to Sun in 1946 in their Philadelphia general offices and worked as a draftsman in Marketing engineering for 10 years. He graduated Penn State College Extension School as the sole recipient of the Building Construction diploma in 1951 after five years of night school studies. In 1956, he was transferred to Research & Engineering. In 1960, he was named Architectural Engineer and became a Pennsylvania Registered Architect by examination. He graduated from Drexel University Evening College in 1961 after 10 years of night studies with a Bachelor of Science degree, Architectural major. He was a member of the Cross Keys Fraternity and an Alumni Annual Fund Solicitor. In 1966, he assumed the position of Project Architect and was later given the title, Corporate Architect in 1972; a position Sun established. In 1971, he was the recipient of the "Ten Year Award" from Drexel University as an "outstanding alumnus who had used his education to obtain a position of responsibility and authority in his profession."

Tomie was an Emeritus member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Pennsylvania Society of Architects, the Philadelphia Chapter of AIA and served five years on the National AIA Committee on "Architecture of Commerce and Industry" and "Architects in Industry" in Washington, D.C. He was the chairman of the later committee for the Philadelphia Chapter of which he organized.

In 1963, Tomie was appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to the Board of Commissioners of the Delaware County Housing Authority and served as treasurer, vice chairman and its chairman for three years. He was a former member of the Board of Ridley Township Planning Committee serving as chairman from 1972 to 1976.

Sun selected him to serve with the Delaware County Vo-Tech School system as a member of the Design-Craft Committee from 1965 to 1972. Tomie served as an architectural consultant for the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, the Lankenau Hospital Board of Trustees' Property Committee for building expansion programs, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Curtis Institute of Music, Tyler Arboretum and Rose Tree Park at Sun's request.

Sun chose him to serve on the 1978 and 1983 Contact Clubs of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He finished #1 in sales receiving the Grand Award in both campaigns.

Sun designated him to participate in the Loaned Executive Loan Program working with various groups: Better Housing for Chester, YMCA, Point Breeze Federation, Center for Literacy and Philadelphia Schools.

Sun appointed him to work with Goodwill Industries as a field coordinator to develop new attended donation station trailer sites in the five-county area. He also actively participated in the upgrading of the retail stores with a rehabilitation program.

The late Auxiliary Bishop Martin N. Lohmuller, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, appointed him in 1978 to serve as a member of the Building Committee for the Archdiocese which he served from 1978 to 1998.

Tomie was a licensed Real Estate Salesman for a time. He was a former member of the Delaware County Real Estate Board.

Tomie was always an active aviation enthusiast flying the ubiquitous Piper J-3 Cub around Delaware County after his USN discharge. He received his FAA private pilot's license in 1979, his instrument rating in 1982 followed by multi-engine and seaplane ratings and his commercial certificate in consecutive years. He was a member of the Delaware County Aviation Association, the Pennsylvania Aviation Club, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association and was a 'Quiet Birdman' (QB) of the Philadelphia 'hangar.'

His family would like to thank the St. Madeline's daily mass attendees, the McDonald's morning group and staff in Prospect Park along with the staff at Country Meadows Retirement Community, Life Song Hospice and Home Instead Caregivers in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Tomie was predeceased in death by his wife, Mildred (Millie) Weidel Glessner in 2003 and his daughter, Adele Louise Mallee in 2014 and his brother, Henry, many years before. Thomas is survived by his sons, Mark Brian (Susan) and Paul Thomas, and his son in law, Frank Mallee (Becky) his younger brothers, William (Irene), James (Mary) and Alfred (Patricia) and five grandchildren: Jena (David), Brendan (Oscar), Sean (George), Adam and Jill (Belle) and four great-grandchildren (Sophie, Jessa, Cole and Riley).

Due to the current COVID-19 virus restrictions, his burial will be private at the discretion of the family and will take place at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Springfield, PA. A Celebration of Tomie's Life will be held at St Madeline's Catholic Church, where he was a member for 65 years, at a later date when all virus gathering restrictions have been lifted.

Memorial gifts may be made to either St. Madeline Catholic Church, 110 Park Street, Ridley Park, PA 19078 and/or Good Shepherd Catholic School, 3400 Market Street, Camp Hill, PA. 17011