1931
Theodore
2014
Theodore Thamel
October 11, 1931 — November 30, 2014
Biography
WORCESTER - The servant of God, Dr. Theodore Thamel, fell asleep in our Lord on Sunday, November 30, 2014, after a long battle with cancer. Ted was the son of the late Steve and Mary (Christo) Thamel.
Ted leaves the love of his life, Tina (Johnson) Thamel, his best friend and office assistant, whom he met while he directed the choir at St. Mary’s Albanian Orthodox Church. Shortly after they met, Ted went into the U.S. Army and he and Tina corresponded for two years after which time they were engaged and married. He often joked that she wrote the best letters to him while he was in the service. Ted and Tina celebrated 56 years together in a devoted and loving marriage.
Ted also leaves his daughter, Elizabeth Riecke and her husband, Carl; his son, Dr. Brian Thamel and his wife, Dr. Valarie Ricciardi-Thamel; three grandchildren, Nicole Horn, Alexander Thamel and Lauren Thamel; as well as two step-grandchildren, Carl Riecke, Jr. and Annie Riecke. He also leaves behind a multitude of relatives, friends, and colleagues whose friendships he cherished.
Ted relished family gatherings and they enjoyed many vacations together on Damariscotta Lake and Lovewell Lake in Maine and at his son’s vacation home in New Hampshire. Ted loved sitting and chatting with people, picking and eating blueberries, long drives for no reason, and discovering new places to shop and visit. He was a Spag’s enthusiast and a jack-of-all trades who tried to fix anything.
Next to the love of his family and church was his devotion to optometry, especially his working with children with visually-related learning problems. He loved the children with whom he worked and they in turn eagerly looked for him as they came to the office. This love of his profession extended into his early 80’s and he continued to talk about ways to help patients achieve in school and in life.
His enthusiasm extended to his son, Brian, who followed in his footsteps and is an optometrist in Worcester and Spencer; to his granddaughter, Nicole, who will be graduating next spring from the New England College of Optometry; and to his second granddaughter, Lauren, who is in college and is planning to pursue this same career path.
Ted was not a man of many words, but when he spoke, it was with conviction and passion. He loved his family, his church, and his profession and he took every opportunity to be involved with these and to pass on his enthusiasm to others. Ted accepted everyone as they were and he gave unselfishly to each as needed, never expecting anything in return. Ted was always available, always positive, always planning for some purpose, a man for all seasons who loved life. He was passionate about everyone and everything and he will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
The family extends its sincerest thanks to the staff at Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for their loving care during his several stays there, to the nursing staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital, and especially to Dr. Bogdan Nedelescu for his care and availability throughout Ted’s illness. May God bless you all abundantly!
Ted attended Classical High School, Clark University, and the Massachusetts College of Optometry.
His accomplishments include his service to St. Mary’s. He was instrumental in creating the Sunday school, choir director for many years, president and treasurer of the church several times, Church Tidings editor and printer for many years, building committee member for the new church building, and a tonsured reader. He also received the Knights of St. George Medal for his involvement on the archdiocesan level.
His service to Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation Center included being a member of the Eastern Orthodox Council which founded Holy Trinity 20 years ago, a strong supporter of Holy Trinity, and a member of the board of directors of Holy Trinity for three years as secretary as recent as last year. He and his wife both received the Samuel Apostola Service Award from the Council of Eastern Orthodox Churches of Central Mass in 2008.
Ted began his optometric practice, specializing in vision therapy in 1960 and didn’t retire until he was 80 years old. During his optometric career, Ted was the delegate from the MSO (Massachusetts Society of Optometrists) to the White House Conference on Children and Youth in 1970; he was active in the AOA (American Optometric Association) and the MSO local organizations and in all local vision therapy conferences; he was a member of the OEP (Optometric Extension Program) since 1959, as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry since 1973; and he served on the Office for Children for five years and as chairman of the board for two years.
Ted was also a member of the Worcester County Ethnic Affairs and he received the NCCJ Brotherhood Award in 1984 for outstanding leadership in furthering the ideals of a democratic society.
Family, friends, and colleagues will honor and remember Ted’s life by gathering for calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 5, at St. Mary’s Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, 535 Salisbury St., Worcester. His funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Assumption Orthodox Church or Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehab Center, 300 Barber Ave, Worcester, MA 01606. Arrangements are under the direction of Philip G. Haddad, Jr., Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. To share a memory or leave an online condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" on this page.
Calling Hours
Friday
December 5, 2014
,
4:00
- 7:00 PM
at
St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church
Click for Map and Directions
Funeral Service
Saturday
December 6, 2014
,
11:30 AM
at
St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church
Click for Map and Directions
WORCESTER - The servant of God, Dr. Theodore Thamel, fell asleep in our Lord on Sunday, November 30, 2014, after a long battle with cancer. Ted was the son of the late Steve and Mary (Christo) Thamel.
Ted leaves the love of his life, Tina (Johnson) Thamel, his best friend and office assistant, whom he met while he directed the choir at St. Mary’s Albanian Orthodox Church. Shortly after they met, Ted went into the U.S. Army and he and Tina corresponded for two years after which time they were engaged and married. He often joked that she wrote the best letters to him while he was in the service. Ted and Tina celebrated 56 years together in a devoted and loving marriage.
Ted also leaves his daughter, Elizabeth Riecke and her husband, Carl; his son, Dr. Brian Thamel and his wife, Dr. Valarie Ricciardi-Thamel; three grandchildren, Nicole Horn, Alexander Thamel and Lauren Thamel; as well as two step-grandchildren, Carl Riecke, Jr. and Annie Riecke. He also leaves behind a multitude of relatives, friends, and colleagues whose friendships he cherished.
Ted relished family gatherings and they enjoyed many vacations together on Damariscotta Lake and Lovewell Lake in Maine and at his son’s vacation home in New Hampshire. Ted loved sitting and chatting with people, picking and eating blueberries, long drives for no reason, and discovering new places to shop and visit. He was a Spag’s enthusiast and a jack-of-all trades who tried to fix anything.
Next to the love of his family and church was his devotion to optometry, especially his working with children with visually-related learning problems. He loved the children with whom he worked and they in turn eagerly looked for him as they came to the office. This love of his profession extended into his early 80’s and he continued to talk about ways to help patients achieve in school and in life.
His enthusiasm extended to his son, Brian, who followed in his footsteps and is an optometrist in Worcester and Spencer; to his granddaughter, Nicole, who will be graduating next spring from the New England College of Optometry; and to his second granddaughter, Lauren, who is in college and is planning to pursue this same career path.
Ted was not a man of many words, but when he spoke, it was with conviction and passion. He loved his family, his church, and his profession and he took every opportunity to be involved with these and to pass on his enthusiasm to others. Ted accepted everyone as they were and he gave unselfishly to each as needed, never expecting anything in return. Ted was always available, always positive, always planning for some purpose, a man for all seasons who loved life. He was passionate about everyone and everything and he will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
The family extends its sincerest thanks to the staff at Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for their loving care during his several stays there, to the nursing staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital, and especially to Dr. Bogdan Nedelescu for his care and availability throughout Ted’s illness. May God bless you all abundantly!
Ted attended Classical High School, Clark University, and the Massachusetts College of Optometry.
His accomplishments include his service to St. Mary’s. He was instrumental in creating the Sunday school, choir director for many years, president and treasurer of the church several times, Church Tidings editor and printer for many years, building committee member for the new church building, and a tonsured reader. He also received the Knights of St. George Medal for his involvement on the archdiocesan level.
His service to Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation Center included being a member of the Eastern Orthodox Council which founded Holy Trinity 20 years ago, a strong supporter of Holy Trinity, and a member of the board of directors of Holy Trinity for three years as secretary as recent as last year. He and his wife both received the Samuel Apostola Service Award from the Council of Eastern Orthodox Churches of Central Mass in 2008.
Ted began his optometric practice, specializing in vision therapy in 1960 and didn’t retire until he was 80 years old. During his optometric career, Ted was the delegate from the MSO (Massachusetts Society of Optometrists) to the White House Conference on Children and Youth in 1970; he was active in the AOA (American Optometric Association) and the MSO local organizations and in all local vision therapy conferences; he was a member of the OEP (Optometric Extension Program) since 1959, as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry since 1973; and he served on the Office for Children for five years and as chairman of the board for two years.
Ted was also a member of the Worcester County Ethnic Affairs and he received the NCCJ Brotherhood Award in 1984 for outstanding leadership in furthering the ideals of a democratic society.
Family, friends, and colleagues will honor and remember Ted’s life by gathering for calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 5, at St. Mary’s Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, 535 Salisbury St., Worcester. His funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Assumption Orthodox Church or Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehab Center, 300 Barber Ave, Worcester, MA 01606. Arrangements are under the direction of Philip G. Haddad, Jr., Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. To share a memory or leave an online condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" on this page.
Calling Hours
Friday
December 5, 2014
,
4:00
- 7:00 PM
at
St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church
Click for Map and Directions
Funeral Service
Saturday
December 6, 2014
,
11:30 AM
at
St. Mary's Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church
Click for Map and Directions
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Theodore Thamel, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
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