Thomas Martin Best

Thomas Martin Best Sr, 91, husband of Marie T. Best, died peacefully on Sunday, January 8th surrounded by his family at Rex Hospital. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He passed on his high regard and appreciation for higher education and an active lifestyle so much so that he ensured that all his children and grandchildren were educated and learned to ski.

Tom was born December 23, 1931, in Pittston, PA to the late William and Mary Rakoski Best. He graduated from Mansfield (PA) State Teacher’s College (now Mansfield University). He played football and basketball and received the Gentleman, Scholar, and Athlete Award while at Mansfield. He was drafted in the US Army, serving in the Washington DC area. Tom earned his Masters Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. He worked for IBM in various locations for over 30 years. After retirement from IBM, he continued working for Sun Microsystems in California and Novell in Utah. After his final retirement he returned to North Carolina to be closer to his family.

Tom was a life long sports enthusiast and especially loved snow skiing, playing golf, and tennis throughout his life. He was very active in the Catholic Church, chairing several capital campaigns for St. John the Baptist in Draper, Utah and St. Brendan’s in Shallotte, NC. While in Utah he volunteered for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

In addition to Marie, the love of his life and his wife of 65 years, Tom is survived by his four children, sons, Thomas Best Jr. and his wife Diana, of Raleigh, and Jim and his wife Kathy, of Apex; daughters, Robin Lee and her husband Dann, of Birmingham Alabama, and Sharon Antoszyk and her husband Mark, of Concord NC; ten grandchildren, Martin Best, Maggie Best, Bryan Lee-Lauduski (Alicia), Barton Lee (Rachel), Dixon Lee (Miranda), Griffin Lee (Becca), Tim Antoszyk (Lily), Lindsey Antoszyk, Joe Antoszyk (Debbie), and Katie Heschel (KC); and eight great grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings, William Best, Mary Kay Best, Leonora Klein and Helen Kozloski.

A private Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to your charity of choice.

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