Thomas L. Kane Iii

Thomas L. Kane III, 92, died July 3, 2012 in the comfort of his home in the company of his loving wife and partner of 68 years, Virginia Mahurin Kane and his two daughters: Alexis Patricia Kane of Richmond, California and Constance Kane, of Decatur, Alabama.
Thomas was born on June 28, 1920 to Thomas L. Kane II and Marguerite Mussey Kane in Elyria, Ohio. He attended high school at the Hudson Academy, Hudson, Ohio and then earned a B.S. in Engineering from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio where he met and fell in love with Virginia. From 1943 until 1946, he served as an Engineering Officer in the U.S. Army in the Southern Training Command and the European Theater, achieving the rank of 1st Lt. After returning from the service, he joined his father as partner in the Black Bird Coal Mines (1946-1956). He then became the President of Better Value Homes, constructing homes and commercial buildings (1956-58) and President of Dover Cable Television (1954-1956). He felt a different calling in his life and returned to college to earn a B.A. in Psychology and Mathematics from Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio and eventually a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from the Ohio State University. From 1960 until 1962 he taught at Dover High School and then became the Dover High School Guidance Counselor until he retired in 1978. He continued to work as a therapist for about five years with Personal and Family Counseling.

Thomas Kane was a man of strong religious and spiritual beliefs. With his faith he found a perfect union between science and Christianity. He believed that science is the search for relationships between matter and energy in the physical world we live in. Faith helps us see our relationship to other people and to the Power beyond ours. Just as God moved over the earth and began creation from darkness of Chaos, we are challenged to continue to create and improve upon His creation. This credo was the basis of his unwavering sense of civic responsibility at all levels of involvement-community, national and global.

Putting his faith in action, Thomas was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Dover, Ohio. He was an adult Sunday School teacher for many years, chaired numerous financial drives and was building supervisor when the church moved to its present location on North Wooster Avenue. He was active in numerous volunteer efforts, particularly the Tuscarawas Council for Church and Community where he was a Board Member and President for six years. Also dear to his heart was the Stark Wilderness Center, Wilmot, Ohio, where he served on the Board of Trustees and the Land Management Committee and delighted in leading young children as a docent in novel experiences with nature. Early in his retirement, he facilitated the development of the Family and Children First Council of Tuscarawas County, a collaborative effort to centralize and facilitate service referrals among all agencies serving children and families. He was successful in involving over twenty-five agencies and served as President for three years. Since 1954, Thomas Kane was also an active and regular member of the Dover Kiwanis Club, served as its President, chaired the scholarship committee for 24 years, and flipped pancakes annually.

Lifetime awards and recognitions Thomas Kane earned include the Dwight Arnold Award of Outstanding Ohio School Counselor (1962) , Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship for Outstanding Community Service (2000), Family and Children First-Tuscarawas County for Leadership and Dedication to Children and Families (1993-95), Tuscarawas and Carroll County Mental Health Director's Award (1980), Personal & Family Counseling Service Appreciation for Outstanding Service (1984) , Personal & Family Counseling Service Staff Appreciation as Interim Director (1985), and Dover Education Association for Outstanding Educational Services to Youth of the Community (1972).

Tom Kane will be deeply missed by his family and his community. He is survived by his wife, daughters, three sisters: Carol Kane Simerly, Anne Kane (m Russel Feldman) and Elizabeth Kane Briggs (m Darrel) and three grandchildren : Lauren Kane, Shea Kane Griffin and Timothy Kane Griffin (m Amber) and one great-grandson., William Kane Griffin. His brother, Dr. Kendall K. Kane preceded him in death. He would encourage each of us to continue to improve on The Creator's Work as we are so moved. His greatest fear was for the Earth's future, on which all of us depend.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you follow his lead and give to one of the organizations he was dedicated to: T4C, 1458 5th St. N.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663, The Stark Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. S.W., Wilmot, Ohio 44689, ACLU or one that gives meaning to your life.

The Rev. David Kowaleski will officiate a memorial service celebrating Thomas' life on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 11:00AM at First United Methodist Church, 1725 N. Wooster Ave., Dover. Friends may call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, 803 N. Wooster Avenue, Dover, Ohio 44622 on Friday, July 6, 2012 from 6-8pm. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Tom may sign the online guestbook by visiting the "obituaries and flowers link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com
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