Thomas Michael Curley

Thomas Michael Curley, 84, of Oregon, Ohio, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2026, at 3:25 p.m., surrounded by the family he loved so deeply.

Born on August 28, 1942, in Toledo, Ohio, to Thomas P. and Ursula M. Curley, Tom spent his life caring deeply about people. Whether he was advocating for workers, serving his community, cheering from the sidelines, or gathering family around a dinner table, he believed that every person mattered and deserved to be heard.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Kathleen Curley (Chorba), whom he affectionately called his "Bride"; his children, Denise (Kevin) Miller, Paula (Jim) Nearhood, Christopher (Olivia Leverich) Curley, Kelli Curley, and Erin Curley; his sister, Marianne (Ken) Palinski; his aunt, Corrine Peth; his grandchildren, Kimberly (Mo) Abdo, Kregg Miller, Katelyn Miller, Steven (Kailey) Nearhood, Michael Nearhood, Samantha Way, Jocosa Way, William Curley, and Matthew Curley; and his great-grandchildren, Zoe Hayman, Jud Hayman, and Liliana Abdo. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, lifelong friends, and his beloved dogs, Quincy, Abigail, and Mandi.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas P. and Ursula M. Curley; his siblings, Kay Ann Curley, Carol Slaybaugh, and Danny Curley; and his cherished granddaughter, Emily Curley.

One of the defining moments of Tom's life came at age 12 when his father took him to Washington, D.C., and arranged a meeting with Senator John F. Kennedy. Tom often told the story of spending more than an hour talking with the future president and credited that experience with shaping his lifelong commitment to democracy, public service, and standing up for ordinary people.

Tom graduated from Macomber High School in 1960, where he completed the Electrical Construction Program. He enjoyed telling people that he became a cheerleader because it was a great way to meet girls from the all-girls schools. His humor, storytelling, and ability to make people smile never left him.

In 1966, Tom joined the United States Army and proudly served in Germany as a parts specialist in the motor pool. He earned the Good Conduct Medal and recognition as an Expert Rifleman with the M-14 rifle. He remained life-long friends with some of the men he served with. In June 2019, he was honored to participate in an Honor Flight with fellow veterans, an experience he treasured.

After returning home from the service, Tom built a career that reflected his belief in fairness and opportunity for working people. Starting as an electrician, he rose through the ranks to become Business Manager of IBEW Local 1076 and later an International Representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Over six decades of service, he represented workers throughout several states, negotiating hundreds of labor agreements and helping countless families build better lives.

Tom never viewed labor work as simply contracts and negotiations. To him, it was about people. He fought for safer workplaces, better wages, healthcare, retirement security, and fair treatment for workers. He was especially proud of supporting greater opportunities for women in the workforce and helping advance workplace policies that opened doors and promoted fairness for future generations. Long before those conversations became commonplace, Tom believed that talent, hard work, and opportunity should not be limited by gender, race, disability, religion or sexual orientation. Throughout his career, he earned the respect of workers, colleagues, employers, and community leaders alike because he never lost sight of the people behind the issues.

Tom retired from the IBEW in 2007 after a distinguished career dedicated to improving the lives of working men and women and in 2025, he proudly received his 65-year service pin from the IBEW, an honor that represented a lifetime spent advocating for others, with his family bearing witness. While he was proud of the contracts he negotiated and the workers he represented, he was especially proud of the people he mentored throughout his career. At the 40th IBEW International Convention in Chicago in 2022, Tom had the opportunity to reconnect with many former colleagues and proteges who had advanced into leadership positions throughout the organization. Even after 15 years in retirement, they eagerly sought him out, spoke warmly of his leadership, and credited him with helping shape their careers. Seeing the next generation of labor leaders succeed was among Tom’s proudest accomplishments.

Tom's belief in democracy was not just a principle, it was a way of life. Over the years, he volunteered on countless local, state, and national campaigns, including Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's first campaign. He spent countless hours knocking on doors, canvassing neighborhoods, helping people register to vote, working campaign headquarters, and encouraging others to become engaged in the democratic process. He often brought his children along, introducing them to candidates, campaign workers, and community leaders because he believed participation mattered. His lifelong dedication to civic engagement was recognized in 2024 when he was elected to the Central Committee of the Lucas County Board of Elections. Even later in life, when he could no longer campaign as actively, he continued driving neighbors and friends to the polls because he believed every vote mattered. He believed democracy worked best when everyone had a voice and an opportunity to be heard.

Tom and Kathy built their home in Whiteford Township, Michigan, where they raised their family and lived until 1999. From 1984 to 1991, he served on the Whiteford Agricultural School Board, helping to shape decisions affecting local students and families.

Above all else, Tom was devoted to his family. He took great pride in watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow, succeed, and create lives of their own. He loved introducing them to new experiences, whether it was a sporting event, a boat ride, a family trip, or simply time spent together around a table sharing stories. More importantly, he showed up. Family members could always count on seeing Tom in the audience, in the stands, or in the front row. He was there for weddings, graduations, births, award ceremonies, recitals, ballgames, and countless milestones in between. He celebrated the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren as though they were his own. If something mattered to someone Tom loved, it mattered to Tom.

On September 18, 2026, Tom and Kathy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, a milestone that brought him great joy. Through five decades of marriage, she remained his "Bride”, and there was rarely a gathering, trip, celebration, or adventure they didn’t enjoy together. They built a life filled with love, laughter, family adventures, travel, and friendships that lasted a lifetime.

Tom loved sports almost as much as he loved sharing them with others. Whether cheering for the University of Michigan Wolverines, the Toledo Mud Hens, the Toledo Walleye, or University of Toledo Rockets, he was happiest when surrounded by family and friends. Some of his favorite memories were made taking grandchildren to their first major sporting event, complete with a trip to the giftshop to choose a souvenir to remember the day.

In his free time, Tom enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. In later years, he discovered a passion for woodworking and crafting. Many family members received something uniquely their own, crafted with patience, skill, and love. Those handmade treasures remain cherished reminders of a husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend whose greatest joy was making the people he loved feel special.

Tom never met a stranger. He loved conversation, laughter, storytelling, and bringing people together. He cared deeply, gave generously, and had a way of making others feel welcome. Whether offering guidance, sharing a meal, lending a hand, or simply listening, he found joy in helping people.

One of Tom's favorite quotations came from author Leo Rosten:

"I cannot believe that the purpose of life is merely to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be productive, to be honorable, to be compassionate. I think it is above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have it make some difference that you lived at all."

Those words spoke to the way Tom lived his life. He believed in making a difference, helping others, and leaving things better than he found them. Through his service, his advocacy, his friendship, and most of all his love for family, he did exactly that. His stories, laughter, wisdom, stubbornness, and generous heart will be missed beyond measure. The lessons he taught, memories he created, and love he gave will remain with those who knew him for generations to come.

A visitation will be held at Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Road, Oregon, Ohio, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a time of sharing at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 4555 N. Haven Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, where family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. Military Honors will follow, with a reception afterward at the St. Dominic Center.

Memorial contributions are appreciated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Oregon Democratic Club.

www.freckchapel.com