Thomas Viola

October 31, 1931 - November 24, 2021

Beloved father & grandfather, longtime Nutley resident, 90 Thomas J, Viola, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Celia's House, a residential hospice care facility, in Medford, Oregon. He was born on October 31, 1931 in Nutley, New Jersey to James Viola and Rose (Chimento) Viola. Thomas graduated from Nutley High School and attended the University of Miami before entering the U.S. Army in 1952. Post service he married Geraldine Biondi on September 5, 1954 and settled in Nutley, New Jersey. Thomas and Geraldine celebrated 65 years of marriage before Geraldine's passing in 2020. Thomas had also lived in North Bergen, Belleville, Estero, Fla., Toms River, N.J, Ringwood, NJ and Palm Desert, CA before moving to Oregon. In addition to his wife, Thomas was predeceased by his sister, Rose Marie Desiderio. Thomas is survived by children, JoAnn Manzone, Karen Leighton, Deborah Viola and James Viola and sister Jean Hanson. Thomas has five grandchildren, Ray Davis, Daniel Davis, Christopher Kerney, Thomas Viola, Caroline Viola and two great grandchildren. Early in his career Thomas worked in the family masonry business, Viola Brothers, incorporating lumber into the business, owned and operated trucking company V. J. V. Inc. and toward the end of his career was an automotive salesperson before retiring to Palm Desert. Thomas was a loving husband and father who enjoyed golf and was known to provide some pointers to family members eager to learn, and like his father, he enjoyed a good cigar. For those interested in making a donation in his name and to support others, his peaceful passing was made possible by Celia's House. Donation information can be found here: https://sofriendsofhospice.org/ways-to-give/donation-of-money/