Thomas "Tom" Donelon

Donelon, Thomas, "Tom," 88, of Boca Raton, Florida passed away at Boca Regional Hospital on December 26, 2022.

Born at home on January 9, 1934 to Joe Lou (née Scarbrough) and Bernard Joseph "Bo" Donelon in Wellston, Missouri (greater St. Louis), Tom came into the world at the height of the Great Depression, when the shadows of World War II were growing in Europe. During his formative years Tom spent time in the country with "Uncle Carl and Aunt Mabel' and their daughter Carleen. Back in St. Louis for school, he caddied as a boy, and met the great Ben Hogan, who won his lifelong admiration with his emphasis on the fundamentals of the golf swing. Tom was a promising all-around athlete on the field and on the ice, and his brother Bernard Joseph, called "Pooch" (predeceased) played some professional ice hockey. In addition to military service, Tom held advanced 'degrees' from the School of Life and Hard Knocks.

During his service in the Army Tom's athleticism caught the eye of the administration, who put him on a traveling baseball team. Back home he had started a family with wife Cynthia (née Cornwall, predeceased) and firstborn Thomas, now of Palm City, who later provided him with two grandchildren, Paul and Jennifer. Tom and Cynthia would have three more children: Karen, now of Centennial, Colorado, and Martin and Jennifer (grandchildren François and Laura) of Boca Raton.

Tom's professional career in golf started indirectly in the bag room and later, in his management of the Dining Room at Southshore Country Club in Chicago. Some years later he was asked by golfer friend Phil Darbyshire (predeceased) to fill the role of Assistant Golf Pro at the Country Club of Naples, which he supplemented by managing the Yankee Fisherman restaurant at night. Eventually he moved to the head pro position and served there for many years, introducing his own children to golf, and taking them on numerous trips to Disney World, sometimes playing in local tournaments. He was also a talented bowler, bowling in local tournaments, and coming very close to the perfect game of 300.

Tom never remarried, but had a close relationship with fellow divorcé Cheryl McNamer (née Knapp), now widowed Cheryl Larson of Tampa, with whom he was in touch before his death. Tom treated Cheryl and her children Devin, Chap (predeceased), Heather and Richard like a second family, and her children loved him like a father. Tom later enjoyed many trips to visit Heather and husband Doug White (predeceased) in Arizona, where they played golf together at Arrowhead Country Club and watched professional golf tournaments. Tom helped to coach Heather's Niners ladies golf team, and being an animal lover, he also enjoyed spending time with his honorary grand-dogs.

Tom completed his golf career at Glenn Echo Country Club in Normandy, Missouri, working in the bag room but having an honorary title of "Pro in the Parking Lot" due to his impromptu golf lessons. He became a golf instructor at Glenn Echo, and stayed so long that he was almost a part of the furniture, earning him the loving nickname "Fern." He made many close, lifelong friends at Glenn Echo, including the Manning, Frisella and Lottes families, and Dr. Thomas Spiro, who called him daily for years with invaluable personal and professional advice. Tom was an avid Cardinals baseball and Blues hockey fan, and enjoyed many games with son Martin and dear friends and neighbors Jim and Carol Schafer, who helped him with housekeeping and medical appointments, even driving him to multiple throat cancer radiation treatments.

When he retired to Boca Raton, Tom found a home at Southwinds Golf Course, where fellow Irishman Head Pro Pat O'Brien Dowd welcomed him. The staff and golfers at Southwinds looked after him and made his last years among the happiest of his life. Tom remained very active, still driving, cooking, and walking the treadmill at Mary and Gerry Stern's Boca Raton Physical Therapy Center until the end. He was even able to give golf lessons in his late eighties to daughter Jennifer and grandsons Paul and François at Southwinds. He followed sports closely, rooting for the Miami Dolphins and Heat in addition to his Cardinals and Blues. He will be lovingly remembered, not only for his athletic prowess and love of golf and other sports, but for his faithfulness to family and friends, his love of people, animals and teaching, and his generosity.

A service in memory of Tom will be held on Monday, January 2. At 1:00 pm there will be a visitation, and at 2:00 pm there will be a memorial service followed by light refreshments.
Professional arrangements by Gary Panoch Funeral Home and Cremations, 6140 N Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL (561) 997-8580, compliments of Margaret (Manning) Frisella
www.gpanochfunerals.com

Donations can be made in memory of Tom Donelon to the following highly-rated charities:

American Junior Golf Association, 1980 Sports Club Drive, Braselton GA 30517-6000
www.ajga.org

American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike Ste. 300, Rockville MD 20852-2737 www.kidneyfund.org
American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas TX 75231-5129
http://www.americanheart.org

Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, 2400 Abbey Ct, Alpharetta GA 30004-6020
www.angelsrescue.org

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SERVICE (link will be available just before the service starts)

Professional arrangements by:
Gary Panoch Funeral Home
6140 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33487
561-997-8580
www.gpanochfunerals.com