Obituary of Thomas W. Lopuszynski

Thomas W. Lopuszynski died on January 2, 2023, at the age of 91. He was born on September 24, 1931, in Rome, New York, the ninth of eleven children in the family of Michael and Marcella (Kedzierski) Lopuszynski. While in Rome, NY, he attended Transfiguration Catholic Elementary School and upon completing eighth grade he went on to Rome Free Academy, graduating in the Class of 1948. He was always grateful for the time as an early teenager when he served as a carrier for the Rome Sentinel. After one year out of school that was spent in the work force, he enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgical Engineering with the Class of 1953. In 1954 Tom volunteered for service with the U.S. Marine Corps and served three years as an enlisted man, being honorably discharged in 1957 with the rank of Sergeant. During his military service Tom met his future wife and partner, Eileen M. Kleinheinz and they were married in Milwaukee, WI in May of 1958. Following his service with the Marine Corps, Tom accepted a position with Union Carbide Metals Division in Ashtabula, Ohio, and remained with the organization for 41 years including 13 years with Elkem Metals Company after Union Carbide divested their Metals Division to Elkem A/S of Oslo, Norway. At the time of his retirement in 1994, he held the dual position of Vice President of Elkem Metals Company and President of Elkem American Carbide Company, a Joint Venture company between Elkem and Airgas, Inc. of Philadelphia. During his years with Union Carbide and Elkem Metals Co., Tom held a number of different positions while serving at company facilities in Ashtabula and Marietta, OH; Alloy, WV; and Pittsburgh, PA, but most of his working career was in Ashtabula where he held the position of Plant Manager for eight years. While in Ashtabula and employed by Elkem Metals Company he attended Kent State University and completed their MBA program in 1982. He also attended management classes at Case Western Reserve University and he was an alumnus of the IMD School of Management in Geneva, Switzerland. While employed, Tom traveled extensively on business in the United States and 20 different countries of the world, sometimes on lengthy assignments. After his retirement in 1994, Tom stayed active as a consultant until 2005. During this period, he also volunteered with the International Executive Service Corps and accepted a one-month assignment in Bulgaria where he assisted a local entrepreneur in planning the reactivation of a plant for the production of Manganese Monoxide. During his many years living in Ashtabula, Tom was active in a number of organizations. He was a member of Mother of Sorrows Parish where he served as a member of the Parish Council, President of the School PTA, various Festival Committees, and the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities. In the public arena he served on the Boards of Trustees of Ashtabula General Hospital, the Ashtabula Country Club, and the Board of Directors of Society Bank of Ashtabula. He also served as President of the Ashtabula County United Way for a period and was active in their fund-raising campaigns. Tom had a changing variety of interests during his lifetime and retirement including outdoor activities as a youth such as trapping, skiing, fishing, and hunting. In his early adult years, he played handball, which he enjoyed very much. He was a 30-year jogger and remained physically active with a disciplined daily exercise program that continued to his later years. He greatly enjoyed classical music and classical ballet, while being a dedicated reader of military history, classical literature, archeology, and the history of the origins and evolution of mankind. He was a member of and very much enjoyed the activities of the DOWNSTAIRS CLUB, an investment club consisting of a group of friends and associates. Tom is survived by his wife Eileen and four children, Susan Schnars, Stephanie (Joe) Chvatal, Andrew (Jennifer Foote), and Alan (Johnette Bortnik). He was predeceased by his parents, ten siblings, and a daughter who died in the delivery room shortly after birth. He is also survived by five grandsons (Brandon Schnars; Jack, Drew, and Sam Lopuszynski; Nathaniel Lopuszynski) and one granddaughter (Abby Lopuszynski) in addition to 30 nephews and nieces. Tom always felt a great debt of love and gratitude to his wife and partner Eileen, his four children and their families, his ancestral family, and all the teachers, fellow workers and friends who helped him and mentored him. He always felt that the quality of his life could not have been achieved without the assistance of a great number of people. A mass will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 11AM at Our Lady of Peace- Mother of Sorrows Parish, 1464W. 6th St., Ashtabula with Father Mulqueen officiating. Inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Ashtabula. Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory, 4524 Elm Ave., Ashtabula is handling arrangements. Online obituary and condolences at www.ducro.com