In Memory

Thomas A Monaco

Message from Danny Perales:

Dear Coral Park Classmates,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing on September 28th of my dear friend of 65 years, and fellow 1966 alumnus, Tom Monaco. Tom and I met in 4th grade at Royal Palm Elementary and then went to Riveria Jr High where me, Tom, Lenny Rutland, Steve Reinmund, my sister Aurora and several other students followed principal Newmeyer, Ms. Eades, Joe Fernandez, and a few other Riveria faculty to the new Coral Park High School in 1963 instead of Southwest. It was one of the best decisions all of us ever made. Tom played football for a couple of years but in his senior year decided to focus his time and intellectual energy as part of the student team that developed our outstanding 1966 Coral Park yearbook (The Arieon) – I still have mine and many of you probably still have it too. After graduating from the University of Miami Tom went on to become a high school English teacher for 30+ years at Killian and Braddock High Schools. After retiring from Braddock he taught at the Doral academy for 10 years before he became ill. His expertise was overseeing the students who helped him develop and publish the school yearbooks. His wife Mary, also an educator, served as an administrator at Braddock. Over the years, we would see Tom and Mary whenever we visited my sisters and parents in the Homestead area. Me and Denise greatly enjoyed driving down with Tom and Mary to the Keys to have lunch or dinner at our favorite spots including Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill, the Sundowner, the Islamorada Fish Company, and of course the Lazy Days restaurant among others. I will always remember the fun times that me and Tom had swimming in our Westwood Lakes community as kids and having fun in Miami as young adults and then as senior citizens. I invite you to post any comments or reflections that you may have about Tom, and I will be glad to share them with his family. 
Danny



 
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10/01/23 01:35 PM #1    

C. Stanley "Stan" Romes

I too remember Tom fondly and am saddened to learn of his passing. He and his family will be in my prayers. 


10/02/23 08:29 AM #2    

Charlotte Marie Walsh (Fowler)

Thank you for letting us know, Danny.  I remember Tom as one of the nicest guys in our class.  I'm so sorry to hear of his passing.  My condolences to his family and to you too, as you have lost a life long dear friend.  RIP Tom.


10/03/23 06:15 PM #3    

Leonard Rutland Jr

 

I met Tom in fifth grade at Royal Palm Elementary. We were friends for many years and I remember him as a kind person. The last time I spent time with Tom was on his boat in Biscayne Bay - we had a good time. That is how I will remember him.

Lenny Rutland

 

 


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