Thomas Hillery

Thomas J. Hillery age 81, passed away on August 29, 2014. Tom was a life-long resident of the area and was always proud of his Akron roots. He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Eva Hillery. Tom was a graduate of St. Vincent High where he was president of the 1951 class and co-captain of the Irish Football Team winning recognition to the All-City and All Catholic Squads in his senior year. Upon graduation he was awarded and athletic scholarship to the University of Akron and became a member of the Zips Football Team. While at U of A he was elected vice-president of the Class of 1955 and was a member of Lone Star Fraternity , and Varsity 'A' Association. Following graduation he received a commission in the U.S. Army and served two years as an officer in the military. In 1958, Tom began a 56 year career in advertising. He worked for major Northeast Ohio Agencies serving many prominent national accounts. In 1979, he founded Hillery Advertising, and operated it until 2000 when he went into semi-retirement. In the years that followed he continued to serve several area accounts. Tom was a former member of Sales and Marketing Executives, the Greater Akron Advertising Federation, Fairlawn Country Club, and the Endowment Committee of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. He was an active member of the STVM Booster Club and took great pride and enjoyment in the school's athletic fortunes and is a member of the Booster Clubs Hale of Fame. In 1998 he was awarded the Father Maher Award for his service and dedication to St. Vincent- St. Mary High School. He will be remembered for his quick wit, hearty laugh, and uncanny memory. Tom was fiercely proud of his Irish Heritage. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Joellen (Wargo) his high school sweetheart, children: Kyle (James) Freeman, Kelly (David) Seiberling, and James (Andrea) Hillery and grandchildren Frank Freeman and Evan Seiberling. Tom wanted his friends and family to remember him with this bit of Irish Prose: Togetherness Death is nothing at all. I have slipped into the next room. Life means all that it ever meant. Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of your sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Nothing has passed. Nothing has been lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before, only better, infinitely happier. We will be as one forever. Calling Hours we be held at Hummel Funeral Home, 3475 Copley Rd., Copley on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am Wednesday at St. Vincent Catholic Church. A tailgate celebration will immediately follow the Mass at Green Street Stadium. Private burial services will be held at a later date at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family would especially like to thank the Shaffer Family, Marian DeBona and Ridgewood Road Hospice Care Center. Memorials in Tom's memory may be made to St. Vincent - St. Mary Annual Fund, 15 N. Maple St. Akron, OH 44303.