Leo Tomaszewski

Leo W. Tomaszewski, (92), of Dearborn Heights, MI passed away on September 9, 2020. Loved ones from near and far supported him through his life-ending battle with dementia. Visitation Sunday from 2-7 pm, Rosary 5pm, at Stanley Turowski Funeral Home, 25509 W. Warren Avenue, Dearborn Heights. Instate Monday 9:30am until 10 am funeral Mass at Church of the Divine Child. The family suggests memorial donations to Henry Ford SandCastles or Forgotten Harvest. Note: Masks are required at the funeral home. To minimize risk of spreading the Corona Virus the family asks everyone to keep masks on (nose and mouth covered) while in the building. Also please keep groups to 10 or fewer people and forego any physical contact. In the church on Monday, seating at church will be limited to every 3rd pew. We encourage you to add your memories of Leo via the guestbook below. Arriving on March 20, 1928, Leo was the 6th of eight children born to Adam and Sophie (Surbinski) in Detroit, MI. Leo is survived by his baby sister, Alice (the late Doug) Stinson. His siblings who predeceased him were: Jean (Pete) Daniels, Stanley (Meg), Lottie (Edward) Makowski, Eddie (Helen), Helen a.k.a. Roxy (Edwin) Psymusinski, Nancy (Chet) Karcyznski. They were a proud Polish family who enjoyed speaking in Polish with others. Leo, his two big brothers (Stan and Eddie), and their nephew, Peter Daniels Jr. were all close pals. They enjoyed many adventures swimming at the YMCA and riding bicycles all around and beyond the City of Detroit. There were many fond tales of selling newspapers and working for a cobbler. Self-taught at a young age, Leo played both the harmonica and the accordion. Leo’s harmonica was often in his shirt pocket and ready to play with minimal prompt. While young, the grandchildren enjoyed the ‘button box’, although as teens they absolutely came to dread it. Not to worry, Dad found many an enthusiastic audience among his fellow seniors in his later life. As a majority of the Tomaszewski family remained in Michigan, Leo would visit with his mother and siblings, especially over the Christmas holidays. After his wife passed, he spent more time with his sisters Lottie and Alice. Even though his brother Stanley moved his family to Alabama, Leo would regularly visit there too. Leo graduated from Chadsey High School. He was WWII era vet in the US Army serving in the Pacific Theatre. Via the GI Bill Leo earned a degree in Engineering (Lawrence Institute of Technology) and later an MBA (Central Michigan University). He worked for Ford Motor Co. for the majority of his career as a civil engineer. He designed and supervised construction and enhancements of manufacturing facilities in St. Thomas Ontario, Canada, and Louisville, KY. He retired August 1989, shortly after the paint booth he engineered was completed at the Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom, MI. In his early 20’s Leo met his favorite dance partner, the late Helen Cecelia Kosinski. The pair were introduced while standing up to the wedding of their dear friends (the late) Ray and Helen Tygielski of Huntsville, Alabama. Their romance did not take off right away. It was a future New Year’s Eve celebration which set them on a course with destiny. The following summer while Helen was away on a girls’ trip Leo realized he was IN LOVE. Leo had beautiful penmanship and began to write love letters to Helen. Before 1950 mail was delivered twice daily. Back from her trip, Helen saw Leo had posted two letters each day while she was away. After a star lit proposal near the Ambassador Bridge, Leo and Helen were married and shared 52 years as husband and wife. They held formal celebrations for both their Silver (25) and Golden (50) wedding anniversaries. Leo greatly admired the Kosinski family, particularly Helen’s father, Stanley. Stanley was a great role model for Leo who had lost his own father when he was barely 13. Ironically, Leo and his mother-in-law, Cecilia Kosinski, had the same birthday: March 20th. The family enjoyed many meals around the table at Stanley and Cecelia’s home on 30th Street in Detroit. If was from that home Helen’s brothers went off to and (thankfully) returned from WWII. Highchairs and step stools were added as grandchildren arrived. Busia (grandma) handed out Hershey Bars and gave girls 2 cookies, while boys were given 3. Throughout their lives, Leo and Helen enjoyed dancing and playing games and cards - especially Pinochle, Canasta and Cribbage. Date nights included dancing at Polka Booster Club events and Saturday night dinners out – most often to a destination featured in the Entertainment Book. Leo also enjoyed playing poker (stacking the colorful chips in the carousel was simple fun for children). Playing bridge brought him much enjoyment in his retirement. At home the hi-fi stereo was regularly queued up, especially with Polka records or classical music. Dad would entertain the children with albums by The Singing Nun, The Serendipity Singers ("Don't Let the Rain Come Down") and the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album. Leo and Helen enjoyed travel. They honeymooned in Florida. They took their growing family on many vacations where they became regular patrons of Holiday Inn and KOA – especially for Easter. The BIG trip was a month-long trek across the USA in the summer of 1972. With a fat stack of AAA Triptik packets in hand, the family traveled west to Washington, south to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on to New Mexico, then back east across the southern US. (Who has that trip journal?) In the 1980’s Dad’s ‘fishing’ boat was the new lure to engage young adult offspring now interested in waterskiing. Eventually Leo and Helen became fans of cruise travel. Their first trip to the tropics was to the Islands of the Bahamas with (the late) Ray & Maggie Kosinski ~1979. Afterwards there were numerous trips to the Caribbean Islands and Central American border islands and ports. A favorite vessel was Cunard’s luxurious Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). In spite of swearing off it after being stationed there in the US Army, Hawaii became a favorite destination. A Hawaiian cruise was their last trip together. As a widower Leo sailed around Australia. He loved beaches, sunrises, sunsets, the tropics and fishing. Leo and Helen retired to South Padre Island, TX. They first traveled there via an unplanned detour after visiting their daughter, Nancy and her husband, Bob, who were living in Houston at the time. Once they experienced ‘snowbird life’ the couple were hooked. Upon retirement, the family home in Dearborn Heights was sold and the contents dispersed or donated. Their new home was a 5th wheel travel trailer which allowed them to come and go about as they pleased. While going to Texas in the fall and back to Michigan in the spring they would stop to visit with family and friends along the route. They made many new friends in at the Campground of America in Texas. Sometimes they walk over the Harlingen Border Crossing to shop in Mexico. Dad deeply appreciated the beauty of the Sierra Madras Mountains of Mexico. Leo was the proud father of nine children. Bathing the kids was dad’s job (a.k.a. labor of love). He taught all his children to enjoy and relax in the water. Dad and Mom had a deal: mom cared for the children all day; Dad would care for the children overnight. He knew she needed her rest. For the first year of our lives, each of us slept in a crib in Dad & Mom’s bedroom. The family ate dinner together every week night. On a birthday the menu was the birthday person’s favorite meal with a home baked cake for dessert. Always yummy…except for the time Nancy’s fingers got trapped in the beaters. (Sorry, Ruth, no cake for you!) On Saturday mornings dad would sleep in until the grandfather clock rang at 10. That was the signal to ‘go wake up dad’. All the children would run upstairs and clamber onto his bed. There Dad would tickle us until we nearly lost our breath from laughing. Dad was our weekend short order cook. It was pancakes on Saturday and eggs on Sunday. Weekend dinner was hot dogs or hamburgers; charcoal grilled – even in winter or under rainy skies. Leo and Helen were most proud of their children’s accomplishments and the families they created. Most of their children still reside in Metro Detroit. Stan and his family live in Texas. Children (9): Laura (Barney) Olesko, Michael (Ellen Clark) Sparrow, Nancy (Robert) Noiva, (the late) Peggy (Keith) Studzinski, Ruth (Carl) Bachor, Stanley (Deborah), Terese (Kevin) Baltes, Leo A. (Kimberly) and Mary Tomaszewski. To his immense joy Leo was a grandfather of 14 and a great-grandfather of nine, with a 10th due soon. He is also survived by his baby sister, Alice Stinson, and many nieces and nephews. Even his childhood pal, his nephew J.R. Daniels and wife Carol, now in Montana, are enjoying a long life. Grandchildren (14): Melissa (Andy) Mudra, (the late) Kelly Studzinski, Christopher (Leslie) DaMour, Kimberly (Ben) Eberlein, Jackie (Alex) Cavanaugh, Carl (Katie) Bachor Jr., Kevin Bachor, Jennifer (Camerin) Hahn, John Bachor, Evan Sparrow, Valerie (Jonathan) Dulmage, Adam, Noah and Rebekah Tomaszewski. Great-Grandchildren (soon to be 10): Hazel Mercury DaMour, Lincoln Bowie DaMour, Lucy Margaret Mudra, Theodore Cooper Eberlein, Bellamy Jones DaMour, Penelope Syrai Eberlein, Quinn Olivia Cavanaugh, Reuben Osiris DaMour, Claire Elizabeth Bachor and soon to arrive: baby girl Cavanagh. Leo was predeceased by his granddaughter Kelly, wife Helen and daughter Peggy (Keith) Studzinski. Leo’s long life (92 years, 5 months, 21 days.) surprised us all. From birth to death he lived 33,777 days. He had his first heart attack at age 49. Apparently, the docs at Cleveland Clinic deserve their good reputation. Who knew the triple bypass surgeries (occurring ten years apart) would sustain him for so many decades? Being raised by such a proud man, it was difficult to accept, witness and manage Leo’s decline as his dementia progressed. No matter how far he slipped away, and even though he eventually did not recognize loved ones, it was still music and children that brought him comfort and made him smile. The thought that Leo is now reunited with this beloved dance partner, Helen, in the afterlife, serves as a salve for the soul of those who will miss him. May peace be with all who knew Leo W. Tomaszewski Sto lat! We encourage you to add your memories of Leo via the guestbook below.