Isaac Daniel Thomas Jr.

On January 31, 1936, Isaac Daniel Thomas Jr. was born to Isaac Daniel Thomas Sr. and Mary Lee in Bessemer, Alabama. He was the oldest of four children born to the couple, including William, Mary, and Woody. The young family moved to Ecorse a suburb of Detroit where Isaac Sr. opened a tailor shop and taught Isaac Jr. how to sew and tailor clothes. Isaac learned how to play tennis from his father who was a tennis instructor, and this began his passion for the game. Isaac spent summers with his great grandmother in Washington DC and she gave him the nick name “Jack” that stuck with him his whole life.

Jack attended Ecorse High School and lettered in Football and Track & Field. Jack also played the saxophone as a teenager and developed a life-long love for Jazz music. Growing up in Ecorse Jack was a member of the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist church. Jack graduated from Wayne State University, where he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc. His first job after college was a juvenile counselor in a boys detention home. This was where he first began developing problem solving, coaching, and mentoring skills. During that time, he had his first son, Dennis Keith Thomas. Jack joined the Army and served at Walter Reed Hospital. Jack married Mary Ester Ellison, the love of his life and his best friend. Soon after, the couple had a son, Peter Neil Thomas. Jack completed his military service and received an Honorable Discharge at the rank of Lieutenant. Jack and Mary then moved to Los Angles where he landed a job with Allstate Insurance as a Claims Adjustor. Jack joined the Berean Seventh Day Adventist church where he served as Deacon, sang in the choir, and served on several church committees.

“Ike” as his work colleagues called him, kept rising through the ranks at Allstate. He eventually received another promotion which required him to move the family to San Jose. Prior to moving, he and Mary welcomed another son, Isaac Daniel Thomas III. Ike and his family joined Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist church in San Jose where he became an Elder and youth Sabbath School teacher. Ike continued to be a very active tennis player, winning numerous tennis tournaments. He even held a top 100 ranking in the state of California. Ike became one of the first African Americans to become a corporate officer at Allstate. He was instrumental in mentoring other African American managers and executives at Allstate and became a mentor to African American businessmen at other companies nationwide. He served on the board of multiple civic organizations and was instrumental in creating mentoring programs at many colleges and universities, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

Ike received a historic promotion to Vice President at Allstate. This promotion required his family to move to the company’s headquarters in the Chicago area. At about the same time, he became the Director of the National Urban Affairs, Vice Chair of Safer Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Board for the celebrated DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago. In 1980, Ike was inducted into the National Archives of “Who’s Who in Black America”. While living in the Chicago area, he joined the Waukegan Seventh Day Adventist church where he served as an Elder, Pathfinder Leader and Sabbath School teacher. In addition, Ike served on the Waukegan Church school board.

In 1989 he moved his family to the Washington, DC area where he worked for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Upon his retirement in 2010, he received the coveted “Dollar Bills” plaque for outstanding service. Ike continued serving his community as a member of 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, DC.; however, it was his love of God and commitment to the gospel of Christ that led him to the Capitol Hill SDA Church Family. At Capitol Hill he sang in the Chorale Choir, served as an usher, taught Sabbath School class and was an active member of the “Forever Young” ministry. He loved his church, and his church loved him.

Perhaps his greatest joy was his grandchildren. From building a stage in his basement for them to perform concerts to spoiling them with candy from his car, “Kapa” as he was affectionately called, loved his grandchildren.

He leaves to cherish his memory, three sons: Dennis Thomas (Raynee), Peter Thomas (Trinita), Isaac Thomas III (Serrah); one sister: Mary Anderson; grandchildren: Kaila, Nathan, Quinn, Ellison, Jamilette, Janikah, Iahyana; two nieces: Sandy Edwards (Gary), Rayna Lynch (Ed); four nephews: Lamont Thomas (Heather), Travis Thomas, Mark Thomas(Sylvia), William Thomas; and 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary, his brothers William and Woody (Jeanette), his niece Margaret and his parents Isaac and Mary

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.robertevansfuneralhome.com for the Thomas family.