Thomas R. Lamar

Coach Tom Lamar passed away in DeBary at age 94, leaving behind his family and many close friends.

Tom was born June 20, 1917 in Manchester, Georgia. His family moved to Florida in 1925 where his father worked in establishing the Seaboard Railway. He attended Lake Worth Florida public schools and graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1934. Tom was President of the Senior Class and student body, captain of the football team and also won letters in baseball and basketball.

During World War II, he graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut in 1944 and was commissioned an Ensign, serving in the anti-submarine warfare as a young officer.

He later graduated Cum Laude from the University of Miami, Coral Gables FL in 1950 with a Bachelor and Masters degree in Education. Mr. Lamar also taught there in the School of Education where he founded and coached the University’s first men’s and women’s swim teams. Both teams were undefeated during his tenure. In 1948 he moved to Ft. Lauderdale to join the high school faculty where he organized and coached the Ft. Lauderdale Swim Association and again the teams were undefeated. He later when on to Pinecrest Preparatory School in Ft. Lauderdale to work as the Athletic Director and Swim Coach.

During his career at four different schools, Lake Worth High School, Ft. Lauderdale High School, Pinecrest Prep and Winter Park, his boys’ and girls’ teams won 29 high school Florida State Swim Championships. He coached numerous national champions and Olympic team members.

He was a life member of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States and the Olympic and Foreign Relations Committee, a member of the Ft. Lauderdale Swimming Hall of Fame, Winter Park High School Hall of Fame, Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame and the Pinecrest Preparatory School Hall of Fame. For a brief time, he was also City Manager of Ft. Lauderdale.

Coach Lamar spent much of his life mentoring young people, not only as athletes, but as future citizens. He assisted them in developing the skills and ethics that would help them lead a fulfilling life as contributing citizens of this republic.

He was known for his quick wit, keen intellect and his ability as an orator. He was dearly loved and will be truly missed, but never forgotten.

He is predeceased by his parents, Mattie Laurie Gresham and Lavoisier Ledran Lamar, his dear sister Louise Lamar Deason and his beloved wife Mary Thomas Lamar.

Survivors include son, State Attorney Lawson L. Lamar and his wife Jo-Ann (Fiscaletti) Lamar; grandson Thomas R. Lamar II and his wife Dr. Julie (Raffa) Lamar, grandson Lawson L. Lamar II and granddaughter Lauren L. Lamar; great grandchildren Alexandra and Sophia Lamar.

A donation in lieu of flowers may be made to West Volusia Habitat for Humanity, 604 South Spring Avenue, Deland, FL 32720, phone number 386-734-7268.

A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.

Arrangements under the direction of Carey Hand Cox-Parker Funeral Home, Winter Park, FL.