Thomas Anthony Cleary

YOUNGSTOWN - Thomas Anthony Cleary Jr., longtime resident of Youngstown, who worked his way from laborer to the board room within his beloved city's steel industry, died Feb. 6, 2015. He was 89.

Tom had a will and drive as strong as the steel that forged much of his career. He believed in Youngstown, American cars and hard work, along with a good meal, good friends and a strong family.

The only child of the late Clara (Deibel) and Thomas Anthony Cleary Sr., young Thomas grew up playing kick-the-can and reluctantly tending the family garden at his childhood home, which still stands on Florencedale Avenue. He attended St. Edward's Elementary School and The Rayen School.

At age 17, Tom became the youngest member of a labor gang at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company's Campbell Works, where he shoveled coal into the open-hearth furnaces. Over the course of 30 years, he moved through the ranks of hearth work and smelter operations to become superintendent of Brier Hill, then general manager of steel operations, and later senior vice president of operations. Ultimately, he earned the title of executive vice president of Sheet & Tube and a director for Lykes Corporation, which merged with Sheet & Tube.

"He's the type that is equally at home with the fellows down in the glare in front of an open hearth furnace, where the discussion is of when the next heat will be ready to tap, or in the cool upholstered atmosphere of the corporate board room, where the discussion is from where will come the money to build a much-needed $100 million new coke battery," wrote the Youngstown Vindicator in 1972. The same article characterized Tom as an "old-time, high-ranking, tough-talking, Youngstown steel executive."

Tom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve), and did graduate work at Case Western Reserve University and Harvard Business School. Between college and work, he served three years in the Naval Reserve during World War II, earning the rank Senior Lieutenant, and was later recalled for two years in the Korean War.

On a summer vacation to Lake George, N.Y., in 1950, he met his future wife, artist Rose-Marie Abel of Trenton, N.J. They married two years later and made their life together in Youngstown, rearing five daughters.

Tom served as a president of the Association of Iron and Steel engineers, an organization of some 11,000 members, representing steel-producing countries. In 1972, he was named president of the National Association of Iron and Steel Engineers and given the "Outstanding Persons Award" by the combined Technical Societies of Youngstown. Four years later the Mahoning Valley Industrial Management Association awarded him Industry's Manager of the Year.

In the late 1970s, when economic hard times hit, Tom was the only board member to vote against the closing of the Sheet & Tube mills. Instead of moving to Chicago to join the LTV Corporation headquarters, he and Rose-Marie chose purposefully to stay in Youngstown, the city he loved. After 30 years at Sheet & Tube, he joined Standard Slag Company in 1979, where he served as the executive vice president of operations and as a director until 1990, when he retired. He had a private consulting business for years afterward.

His strong civic commitment included serving on the boards of the Dollar Savings and Trust Co., the Community Corporation of Youngstown, the Camp Fitch Board of Management, the Zoning Board of Liberty Township, the Youngstown Area United Appeal and a long, dedicated tenure as a board member on the city's YMCA.

A passion for travel began during his Navy years in Europe and Greece. In the mid 1940s, he and a Navy buddy drove a 1937 Ford Panel truck west, adventuring for 18 months, picking apples, working ski patrol on Mt. Rainier and exploring. He later traveled to other parts of the United States with his family and to Australia, China, Japan, Africa, and most recently to India.

He loved to sail on Mosquito Lake, hunt, play squash and golf, fly (he earned a pilot's license in his 50s) and fish in Florida, where he and Rose-Marie wintered in their retirement. Wherever he went, Thomas always enjoyed a good meal, from sausage sandwiches at the Canfield Fair to jellyfish in Japan and Grand Marnier soufflAC., a revered birthday request.

Tom lived life fully, and with gusto, sometimes commenting, "I don't want to miss anything." He will be remembered for his legacy in the steel industry, a love of life and all of its experiences, and his rich, bass voice.

He was predeceased by his wife, Rose-Marie, and leaves his five daughters, Lynn Cleary and husband David Duggan of Skaneateles, N.Y., Karen Cleary and husband Marvin Klikunas of Charlotte, Vt., Elise Cleary and husband Mark Styduhar of Hinesburg, Vt., Allison Cleary and husband Richard Watts of Hinesburg, and Judith Cleary and husband William Neofes of Wexford, Pa.; and nine grandchildren, Jake, Abby, Alex, Anna, Joseph, Rose, Sam, Daniel and Jackson. He also leaves his close friend and companion of several years, Dorothy Conant of Stuart, Fla.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Aaron Blecher for the valued medical care he provided over many years.

Calling hours will take place at St. Edward's Church, 240 Tod Lane in Youngstown, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, followed by a funeral Mass at the church at 11 a.m.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Tom's name to Youngstown's Central YMCA, 17 N. Champion St., P.O. Box 1287, Youngstown, OH 44501, or to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center, 14200 U.S. Highway One, Juno Beach, FL 33408.

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