Dr. Thomas Francis Nemec
June 3, 1939 to March 8, 2019
Obituary
Passed peacefully away in the presence of his family Dr. Thomas F. Nemec, Ph.D, retired professor of Anthropology at Memorial University. Predeceased by his parents William and Nancy Nemec and his brother Bill Nemec. Leaving to mourn his loving wife of nearly 50 years Mary, his son Bill (Joanne), his son Tom (Mary) and his daughter Joanne (Barry). As well as his wonderful grandchildren Amy, Kasey, Conor, Jessica and Jillian, his sister Nancy and her family in Colorado and his brother’s family in Florida. Also, a large circle of colleagues and friends here in St. John’s and as well in St. Shotts. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Carnell’s Funeral Home, Freshwater Road on Friday, May 24 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Visitation will also be held on Saturday, May 25 at Our Lady of Fatima Church, St. Shotts from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm followed by a funeral mass at 4:00 pm.
Schedule
Visitations
7-9 p.m. on May 24, 2019
Carnell’s Funeral Home
329 Freshwater Road
View on Map
Visitation
2:00pm, Saturday May 25th
Our Lady of Fatima Church, St. Shotts
funeral
4:00pm, Saturday May 25th
Our Lady of Fatima Church, St. Shotts
Tom was my room mate at the University of Michigan and we worked together doing archaeology on Isle royal National Park in Michigan. He was a very great friend and had a profound influence on me.. I learned so much from him. We kept in touch each year at Christmas..
I want to pass on my condolences to his family.
Dear Mary and Family,
Please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of your husband and father. We just learned of Tom’s passing this past week. My husband Ray and I go way back with Tom; Ray and Tom were schoolmates from 6th grade on through high school on the northwest side of Chicago, and I became a part of their lives from age 14. Tom was amazing, easily the smartest one in the group. He used to go along with Ray as Ray made stops and pickups for his father’s TV repair business. Tom would often wear a T-shirt and a scarf with the windows open in brutal Chicago winters during these rides. Tom and Ray, along with 2 other boys, took a road trip to Washington, D..C. in Ray’s brother’s 1950 Ford. They had a blast.
Tom was an usher at our wedding and was taking pictures all day only to find out he had forgotten to put film in the camera. Devastating, but funny. I remember he once gave me a long list of books he said I needed to read in order to become a well-educated person. I wish I had kept it. Both of us have a lot of memories of Tom and we are truly sorry he is gone. But these memories will last forever.
Ray and Diane Lauk
Medinah, Illinois
Sincere condolences to the Nemec family. I took a class with Tom as an undergraduate at MUN many years ago and can honestly say was one of the best experiences I ever had. Open, honest, knowledgeable and friendly hardly do justice in describing Tom. Rest in Peace … you will be truly missed.
To Tom, Mary and the Nemec families we send sincere condolences. Rest in peace.
Tony and Yvonne Legge
To the family of Tom.
Please accept our condolences .Tom was a friend and colleague. He was a wonderful, gregarious, generous and honest human being . Rest in peace Tom.
Jim and Stella Baksh ,Ottawa
My memories of Tom Nemec go back to when I was an undergraduate at the University of Michigan in the early 1960s ,and he was the teaching assistant in my anthropology class.. I was amazed years later to encounter him in the library of Memorial University where I worked from Jan. 1978 until Aug. 2005. He was a most enjoyable and knowledgeable faculty member to exchange information with or assist in minor ways. He knew his way around the QE II Library! I was always happy to see him. My sincere condolences go out to his family. for this loss of such an important family member.
Sending our sincere condolences across the miles. Both Reidar and myself are sorry to miss this celebration of life for a man who did so much for so many. Uncle Tom was a loving caring father, uncle, grandfather and friend. He is loved and missed. May he Rest In Peace xo
Tom was always willing to help anyone who needed information about this part of Newfoundland. I consulted with him several times over the years. Our condolences to cousin Mary and her children and grandchildren. May he Rest In Peace.
Tom was a wonderful man. I had the privilege of studying with him as a graduate student at the university and knew him in later years as an academic colleague and I learned a tremendous amount from our conversations. He was a fountain of knowledge about Newfoundland anthropology and history and many other fields and he was always willing to share that knowledge with others. I will always remember Tom’s kindness, humility, and generosity of spirit. He was very soft-spoken and seemed to prefer to stay out of the limelight, but he did a lot of good work behind the scenes and I know that he made a very positive impact on many lives along the way. My deepest condolences to his family.
Mary and family my sincere condolence on Tom’s passing. Many good memories of chatting with Tom at the Avalon Mall and CLB flea markets while he looked for a book he never had or a gift for the grandchildren. May he rest in peace.
Randy Dawe
I’d like to pass on my condolences to the Nemec family. I met Dr. Nemec when I was a student at MUN in the 1970’s. He was a wonderful prof and made the two courses I took from him quite memorable, especially the NL Society & Culture. I was taking a business degree, so I didn’t have the opportunity to take more elective courses with him.
Please accept our sincere condolences on Tom’s passing. Tom practiced Taoist Tai Chi with our group for many years, we are going to miss him. He was a lovely man, and spoke very fondly of his grandchildren, they held a special place in his heart. May your memories of him bring you comfort during this sad time.
Tom, Mary and Family,
So sorry Tom on the passing of your Dad.
Sincere condolences,
John & Gail Cook
Thinking of you, Mary, and all the family, and praying you will have courage and know peace.
Sister Dorothy Corrigan
Sincere condolences to Mary, Bill, Tom, Joanne and families on the passing of your dear dad and husband. We have so many great memories of growing up next door to the Myrick/Nemec families. We were fortunate to always be a part of their music, stories and songs. Tom made a huge contribution to our culture and heritage in St. Shotts. May your great memories of Tom get you through this very difficult time.
To Mary and family so sorry to here of your loss may he rest in peace