Tom E. Daly

Tom Edward Daly Jr., age 94, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2023 at the Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, where he had received excellent care for the past 5 years. He had previously resided in Eastlake for 63 years.

Born on June 10, 1928 to the late Tom E. and Cecil Daly, and growing up in Beulah Park, a neighborhood next door to Euclid Beach Park, Tom described his childhood as “pure pleasure.” He treasured his memories of his youth with his many friends and dear sisters Fran, Amy, Freida and Nita (all deceased).

Tom was a graduate of Collinwood High School where he was an outstanding athlete in several sports. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later attended classes at Miami University, Lake Erie College and Lakeland Community College. He was employed as a lineman at the Illuminating Company and later at General Electric, specializing in heating and cooling maintenance.

A 32nd degree Mason, Tom was very involved in the Masonic fraternity, reaching 50 years of active membership in 2021. He achieved the Knight of the York Cross of Honor award, which required serving as head of each of the three York Rite Masonic bodies. He served as Master of his Lodge three times, traveled extensively to visit many lodges in Ohio, and led a Commandry Drill Team which marched in many parades and events throughout northeast Ohio. As a young father, he participated in Euclid Fast Pitch Baseball, and won an award in the mid- 1950s for outstanding performance. Tom secured a U.S. patent for his “Field Layout Blind” for field goose hunting and was much admired for his duck and goose calling abilities. He enjoyed golfing, swimming and ice skating well into his 80’s. He was always supportive of his children’s and grandchildren’s academic, musical and sporting events, and especially enjoyed singing “God Bless America” with his grandson Bryan. In his later years, he adopted two phrases, “It is what it is” and “People are people,” which indicated his more mellowed personality.

Tom was married for 67 years to his loving wife, Lois (deceased), and was the dear father of Ted (Linda) Daly, Janice (Walter) Zemaitis and Teri (Michael) Creadon. He was preceded in death by four of his children, Tom E. “Herky” Daly III, Robert Daly, Russell Daly and Donna Wilson. He was the very proud grandfather of Tom E. Daly IV, Tina Sedar, Jenna Nordman, Shawn Little, Michael Daly, Bryan Daly, Gregory Zemaitis, Kylie Creadon, Candice Anderson (deceased) and Christopher Daly (deceased), and ten great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 pm on Friday, February 3 at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, 4154 Clark Ave., Willoughby, with a Masonic service at 6 pm and a memorial service following, officiated by Rev. Steve Little, Tom’s granddaughter Shawn’s husband. Private family inurnment will take place at Acacia Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tom’s memory may be made to The Western Reserve Masonic Community, 4931 Nettleton Rd. Medina, OH 44256 or Crossroads Hospice, 9775 Rockside Road, Suite 270, Valley View, OH 44125.