THOMAS McNAMARA Obituary

Thomas McNamara, 74, passed away peacefully in his Blossburg home on Thursday, April 10, 2025. He was born at Blossburg State Hospital and grew up steps away from the town's iconic green bridge and the railroad where his father worked.
As a student at North Penn High School, he competed in basketball and baseball before going on to earn his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Mansfield State College in 1972. He married the love of his life, Tonya Gorda of Wellsboro, in 1984. Tom taught sixth grade science and math at Liberty Elementary School for 35 years where he was proud to be known as "Mr. Mac" to generations of students. Tom was the longtime head junior varsity and assistant varsity girls' basketball coach at North Penn and also coached Little League and Legion baseball. For many years, he watched his beloved Panther football team from the sidelines as part of the chain gang and was involved in the Panther Football Booster Club. He was inducted into the Tioga County Sports Hall of Fame as a coach/contributor in 2008.
Deeply involved in his community, he served on the Blossburg Recreation Board as President, the Tioga County Sports Hall of Fame board, the North Penn High School Alumni Association, Blossburg VIBE, and supported a variety of local organizations through chicken BBQ fundraisers with Sleezy Construction Co.
In retirement, he enjoyed making popcorn and talking with patrons at the Victoria Theatre in Blossburg, which he and his wife Tonya owned and operated for more than a decade. After selling the theatre, Tom and Tonya renovated the former The Brick Restaurant and opened the Blossburg Company Store, selling locally sourced yarn and knitting and craft supplies. He was a diehard Notre Dame football fan and enjoyed many trips out to South Bend with family and friends to watch his Fightin' Irish.
He was a proud Papa to six grandchildren and loved watching their sporting events, driving them to school, and taking them for "ice cream" (buying scratch-offs with the promise "not to tell Baba"). Tom enjoyed his morning routine of having coffee with friends at the Farmer's Table, where they would repeat the same stories and jokes every day. He will be remembered for his kindness and generosity to everyone, his devotion to his wife and family, and never-ending love for his community.
Tom was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Catherine McNamara. He is survived by his wife Tonya; siblings Michael (Connie) McNamara of Wellsboro and Mary (David) Ramos of Alamo, CA.; children Nate (Kelly) McNamara of Blossburg, Marnie (Jason) Dominick of Mansfield, and Ryan (Caitlin) McNamara of Mansfield; and grandchildren JoAnne, Karson, Claire, Maddie, Lilly, and Brooks.
A celebration of life will be held at the North Penn High School Gymnasium "The Pitt" in Blossburg on Thursday, April 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to wear North Penn, Notre Dame, Yankees, or any other sports team gear. In lieu of flowers, donations to support improvements to Island Park in Tom's name, please make checks payable to Blossburg Borough office at 241 Main St, Blossburg, PA 16912.
Buckheit Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., 637 South Main Street, Mansfield, is assisting the family. www.buckheitfcandcrematory.com