M. Donald Thomas
April 21, 1926 - April 7, 2019
M. Donald Thomas (Mario Donato diTommaso) was born in Bugnara, Italy on April 21, 1926. He died on April 7, 2019 in Salt Lake City.
Don lived in a one-room home in Italy until he was 7 years-old, when his family moved to the United States. He earned his doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Illinois and served as superintendent of schools in Illinois, New York, California, and Utah. He proudly served as Superintendent of Schools in Salt Lake City from 1973 to 1984 and was an educational consultant to three governors, Russia’s Mikhail Gorbachev and hundreds of public school districts until late in life. He continued to write opinion pieces on education for the Salt Lake City newspapers until six months ago.
Don’s dedication to public education earned him several awards including the Civil Rights Worker of the Year Award (1978) and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Citation (2013) from the Utah Chapter of the NAACP, the George Washington Medal for Character Education in the Salt Lake City Schools (1983), and the Educator of the Year Award from the Horace Mann League (1997).
He was blessed by marriage to three talented women: Carol Ostby, Frances Gaylord and Janet Coleman. He had unconditional love for his wives, his children and his parents, Pasquale Luigi diTommaso and Rosina Manna diTommaso, who taught him to be ethical, oppose discrimination, help others, and appreciate life.
He was extremely proud of the achievements of his two brothers: Louis Thomas, Jr. and Andrea diTommaso, both honored educators.
His greatest accomplishments in life were love and respect for his three children, Marc, Marcia and David; promotion of public education as the basis for an effective democracy; and helping disadvantaged children to obtain a quality education.
Dr. Thomas is survived by his wife Janet, brothers Louis and Andrea, sons Marc and David, daughter in laws Judi Simon and Nancy Allf, granddaughters Annie Snider, Katie Husby, Elizabeth George, Virginia Hollmann, Elizabeth Walker and Kaitlyn Thomas, seven talented great-grandsons, and a special great-granddaughter. He is preceded in death by his parents, his former wives, Carol and Frances, and his beloved daughter Marcia.
Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration of Don’s life at Calvary Baptist Church,1090 S. State St., Salt Lake City at 11:00 AM on May 11, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Don’s name to Calvary Baptist Church, 1090 S. State St., Salt Lake City, UT 84111, the NAACP Salt Lake Branch, P.O. Box 25414, Salt Lake City, UT 84125, or to a charity of your choice.
In Loving Memory
I would like to pay my condolences to Don and his family on behalf of myself and my deceased husband W. Gary Harmer. Gary considered Don to be one of the greatest men he had ever worked with. He did enjoy the time they spent together at Salt Lake School District. He was a man to be admired, and I appreciate the opportunity I had to know him.
Marilyn Harmer
Cottonwood Heights, UT
Don and Janet have been such good friends to us, particularly during Rick's time as interim dean of the Marriott Library at the University of Utah. We love you, and you and your family are in our prayers.
Rick and Laura Anderson
Centerville, UT
Dear David and Family, I read with sorrow of the passing of Don, who has been a large part of my life from the time my Mom, Lorna Matheson, was on the School Board and Don was Superintendent. Much more recently, I've read Don's op-eds in the "Tribune" with real admiration for his humanity and his lucid thinking about how we can help others. David, I have fond memories of working on the Guv's campaign with you (almost 40 years ago!) and attending classes together at the U. I would love to have a cup of coffee and catch up, if you have time to contact me. I regret very much not being able to attend the service for Don at Calvary Baptist this past weekend. Please accept the love and best wishes of the whole Matheson family at this challenging time. We will remember Don with the greatest appreciation and respect. Love and best, Mark
Mark Matheson
Salt Lake City, UT