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First Posted: 8/5/2013 Thomas Michael Holmes, 63, of Scranton, died Friday, July 26.
Born in Scranton on March 7, 1950, he was the son of June Lewis Holmes and the late Thomas M. Holmes Jr. Tom attended Scranton public schools, graduating from Scranton Central High School in 1968. He graduated from the University of Scranton in 1972 and from Temple University Law School in 1975. He was admitted to the bar in 1975.
Tom was a gentleman lawyer, who practiced in the way of Abraham Lincoln (who he often cited as his contemporary in solo practice): smart, fair, honest and with the highest ethics.
Tom was one of the founders, longtime organizers and driving force behind the Lackawanna Bar Association&#8217;s Bench Bar Conference, a yearly gathering of Lackawanna County&#8217;s distinguished judges and hundreds of members of the Bar.
He was the only two-time recipient of the Lackawanna Bar Association&#8217;s most prestigious honor, its President&#8217;s Award, bestowed upon an attorney for their selfless dedication to the bar association. Tom was recognized for a career of distinguished service, ranging from his stellar efforts in organizing the LBA Bench Bar Conference and his tireless volunteer service as a Pro Bono Attorney Volunteer. He served as president and counsel for the Crystal Lake Private Park for 23 years.
Tom&#8217;s quick wit and encyclopedic knowledge of all local sporting events enabled him to flatter colleagues, clients, friends and family on their and their children&#8217;s accomplishments. He was an avid runner, having competed in more than 300 road races, frequently winning awards in his age group. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted son, brother and friend who gave freely of himself every day of his life. His presence will be greatly missed in downtown Scranton, in particular in his reserved seats at Scanlon&#8217;s and Stirna&#8217;s restaurants.
He is survived by his mother, June Lewis Holmes, Clarks Summit; sister, Joyce and husband, William Ziegler, Clarks Summit; brother, David, Annapolis Md.; and sister, Anne and partner, Frouke de Quillettes, Shavertown; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Scranton Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Mall at Steamtown, 300 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton, PA 18503 and the M. Patricia Carroll Fund, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, 1635 Market St., 7th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103.