Obituary of Thomas N. Ceravolo

Ceravolo – Thomas Nicholas (born Gaetano Rocco) December 29, 1931-May 26, 2024. “Tom,” “Gramp” to his grandkids, and “Gigi” to his great-grandchildren, was a veteran, a newspaper man, a card sharp, a jokester, a dapper dresser, but most of all he was a devoted father and adoring grandfather who loved his family. He was born in Canandaigua, New York to an Italian immigrant family. In his school-age years, Tom established himself as the class clown. After high school, he entered the Air Force and was posted to Osceola, Wisconsin where he met the love of his life, Joyce Reed. They were together for more than three decades before she passed in 1989. Not long after they married, the couple moved to Lockport, New York where they raised their five girls and where they would both live the rest of their lives. Tom started his career at the local radio station. Later, he became Managing Editor of the Lockport Union Sun & Journal where he was known for his short fuse, his creative cursing, and his keen business sense. Outside of work, he loved bowling, golf, and—especially in his later years—poker. Most of all, he loved his wife and daughters. In 1984 he stepped into his most treasured role: grandfather. He had eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and he loved every one of them. He taught them important life lessons like how to cheat at Go-Fish, how to display the proper amount of irreverence in church, how to compose silly rhymes, but most importantly how to laugh and how to love each other. He was a beloved father of five girls: Terri, Diane, Jan, Sherri, and Joann; a cherished father-in-law to Gary Vanderland, Rick Harrington, Jim Ptak, Jason Peterson, and Kieran O’Loughlin; a much-adored grandfather to Lauren, Jillian, Ali, Gabby, Ava, Chloe, Fiona, and Ruairi and a great grandfather to Emery, Luca, Gwen, and Reed. His family will miss his Sunday sauce and meatballs, we will miss his jokes, but most of all we will miss him. A visitation will be held at Lange Funeral Home, Inc., 186 East Ave., in Lockport on Thursday May 30 from 4-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday May 31, at 11am at St. John the Baptist Church, 168 Chestnut St., in Lockport. Donations in his memory would be welcomed by the Wounded Warrior Project. Condolences may be offered to the family at Langefuneralhomeinc.com.