Thomas Francis Triol

Thomas Francis Triol of Grace Ridge Retirement Community, Morganton, NC, formerly of Savannah, GA, died peacefully in the presence of his family on December 17, 2007. He was born on December 1, 1917, in Abington, PA to the late Rosner N. Triol and Mabel Clemmer Triol. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 63 years, Jane Harris Triol; his brothers, Rosner N. Triol, Jr. and Wilson C. Triol; and infant son, Thomas F. Triol, Jr. He was a graduate of West Chester University and received his master’s degree from Columbia University, where he prepared himself for a lifetime of teaching, coaching, and educational administration.Tom and his wife, Jane, were recruited by the fledgling Savannah Country Day School in the mid 1950’s, and their partnership in education there spanned nearly four decades. Tom taught, coached, counseled, or mentored virtually every graduate of the school, and he retired as Headmaster in 1983. Moves to Jerico Island, GA and Homestead, FL preceded the Triols’ relocation to Morganton, though this area was not unknown to them since they has spent summers at their cabin at Lake James, their piece of Heaven on earth.Tom Triol’s legacy as a loving father, caring mentor, skilled administrator, true friend, and gentle man will live on through all of the many lives he touched. He leaves his loving daughters and their husbands, Deborah Triol Perry and R Anderson Perry, and Helen Triol Drozd and Joseph J.Drozd, all of Morganton; a brother, John Clemmer Triol of Huntingdon Valley, PA; a sister, Elizabeth Triol Coates of Jasper, AR; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces; and nephews.A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 20, 2007, at the First Presbyterian Chapel with the Rev. Michael Bailey presiding. Visitation will follow the service in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials to honor Mr. Triol’s life be made to the Jane Harris and Thomas Francis Triol Endowment Fund at Savannah Country Day School, 824 Stillwood Drive, Savannah, GA 31419 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Road., Valdese, NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.