Dr. T. M.
Thomas
Dr. T. M. Thomas, a member of the St. Thomas Mar
Thoma Church, Yonkers, New York, passed away on
April 21, 2020, of natural causes at his residence in
Suffern, New York. He was born on August 20, 1933
and was 86 years old.
Dr. T. M. Thomas hails from the Thanikapurathottu
family in Kurianoor, Kerala. His wife, Mrs.
Annamma Thomas (Leelamma), passed away in June 2018. He is survived by his
brother Rev. Dr. T. M. Philip who is a retired Mar Thoma Achen and served for many
years in the CLS Book Store at Thiruvalla; and his children Mr. Mathews Thomas
(Shaji) and Elizabeth Thomas (Reni) who are members of the Mar Thoma Church of
New Jersey in Randolph, NJ, and Mr. Daniel Thomas (Danny) who is a member of the
Mar Thoma Church of Greater Washington (MTCGW), and grand children (Suzanne,
Rajive, Philip, Mira, Sara and Nina) and great grand children (Emily and Alyssa).
The entire Mar Thoma Church and the Diocese of North America and Europe owe a
lot of gratitude to Dr. T. M. Thomas for his services to the entire church. Dr. T. M.
Thomas migrated to the U.S.A. in 1963 for higher studies. Prior to that, he worked as
a teacher at the Ashramam High School in Perumbavoor, Kerala. He earned three
masters’ degrees with concentration in psychology, philosophy, and sociology. His
Doctor of Education Degree from Boston University is in foundations of education.
He was a Professor at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut, teaching courses in
sociology and education until his retirement.
Dr. T. M. Thomas was one of our pioneer church members who had a close
relationship and constant communication with the bishops and clergy of the Mar
Thoma Church. He was one of the leaders of the Mar Thoma congregations that
formed in New York in the 1970s, and one of the founding members of the Mar
Thoma Diocese in North America which was established in 1988. He also
significantly engaged in the Mar Thoma Church’s ecumenical relationships with the
Episcopal Church and the National Council of Christian Churches in U.S.A. He actively
promoted the Mar Thoma Student Conferences since the late 1970s which later
became the Annual Youth Conferences and gave origin to the Family Conferences. He
was the convener of the Building Committee that purchased the first Diocesan Center
at Richboro, PA in 1994. Amongst his numerous contributions was services as the
convener for the development of a Mar Thoma Sunday School curriculum which was
released as a series of 12 volumes in 2005.
Dr. T. M. Thomas authored several books: (1) Indian Educational Reforms In Cultural
Perspective - 1970; (2) Images Of Man: A Philosophic And Scientific Inquiry – 1974
(co-authored by J. B. Chethimattam); (3) Kerala Immigrants In America: A
Sociological Study Of The St. Thomas Christians – 1984 (co-authored by Annamma
Thomas; (4) Joyful Vocation Of A Teacher: Autobiographical Reflections On Life and
Teachings - 2011. Dr. T. M. Thomas also served as convener and editor for the
Diocesan Sunday School Publication, The Mar Thoma Church, Our Foundation and
Vision – 2001; and co-edited with Mr. Abraham Mattackal the book titled: In The
Beginning: Formative Years of Mar Thoma Parishes in North America - 2008. He
contributed many thought provoking articles to the Mar Thoma Messenger and other
publication of the Mar Thoma Church.
The depth of his faith is echoed in one of his books where he said, “When death is
accepted as a fact of life, living itself will be enriching”. He also expresses his hope
pointing to the Crown of Righteousness” in the Kingdom of God, saying “Eternal life
begins in this world and continues in the next”. So it’s not the question of dying, but
the concern of living a worthy life. This was exemplified through his loyalty to the
Church and commitment to the Lord till the last.
The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan and the former Diocesan Bishops
have conveyed their condolence to the bereaved family.
The Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos, Diocesan Council, Diocesan
Assembly Members, Clergy and members of the Diocese of North America and
Europe of the Mar Thoma Church Praise God for the life and witness of Late Dr. T. M.
Thomas and express our heartfelt condolence to all the grieving members of the
family. May God’s peace be with you!
Additional details regarding funeral arrangements will follow when they become
available.
Rev. Manoj Idiculla
Diocesan/Bishop’s Secretary
