Thomas J. Stahura

Thomas Joseph Stahura March 11, 2015. Tom Stahura passed away at home after a short illness with his devoted wife Araceli at his side on March 11, 2015. Tom was born July 8, 1951 in East Chicago, IN to George and Ann (Zahorsky) Stahura. He grew up in Hammond, IN. He graduated from Bishop Noll Institute and Purdue University. Like many young men of the time Tom had summer jobs in the mills of the Calumet Region. He began his professional career in the field of metallurgy and engineering in Chicago. While working on the development of the Miami Dade Metro Rail his career focus transitioned to railroad transportation. Tom spent the last 30 years with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) in Washington, DC. His mathematical degree, precise, logical and analytical mind served him well in his position as the Executive Director of Rules and Standards. He served on the Board of Directors for the Mechanical Association Railcars Technical Services (MARTS). Tom enjoyed living in Northern Virginia and was always eager to guide his guests around the sites of Washington DC ending with Tom preparing a barbeque on an old school charcoal grill. While fine dining and ethnic food was often the plan simple meals were appreciated and he loved his mother's traditional Slovak cooking. When he traveled back to the Chicago area familiar hometown foods like Vienna Hotdogs, Italian Beef and Chicago Pizza were not to be missed. Tom was an enthusiast of ending a meal with cigars and a glass of port. Tom traveled extensively with his work but he was always ready for leisure travel especially when it included beach, ocean and sunshine. In his youth Tom participated in little league thru adult league baseball and he played the catcher position. More recently Tom enjoyed watching football and he was a devoted Cubs, Bulls and Bears fan but his sporting passion was fishing. He started with fresh water fishing around Indiana and Minnesota, it didn't compare to recreational big game fishing. During his many fishing trips to the Caribbean and Mexico he enjoyed relaxing with a cigar, champagne and sunning on the boat ride out and back. But the ride didn't come compare to the excitement of snagging and fighting a marlin or sailfish or two, school of dolphin and tuna or the occasional barracuda. Although he graduated from Purdue University, he spent more weekends at Indiana University in Bloomington. The rock music scene in Bloomington was more to his liking. Growing up in the 60's and 70's music was an important part of his world and his interest continued thru his life. He enjoyed music any time day or night- the louder the better. He had a special talent for wiring and connecting sound systems. Additionally while watching a DVD movie you could count on not only a great visual experience, the audio experience was first rate. Tom enjoyed gardening, coin collecting, photography and collecting fish themed artwork. Tom was a devoted husband to his wife of six years Araceli. She was a great love in his life. Tom was a faithful son who never missed an opportunity to honor his parents, grandparents, brothers and elders in the family. He was a thoughtful man who never missed a birthday or holiday to share his love and extravagant gifts. He treasured his many aunts and uncles and the countless Stahura-Zahorsky cousins especially Aunt Betty and Uncle Max Stahura and the "double cousins". Tom was preceded in death by his parents George and Ann (Zahorsky) Stahura, Brothers George and Jim. Survived by his wife Araceli of Alexandria VA, Sister Pat Stahura of Columbia MD, Brother John and sister-in-law Barb (Thornton) of Pompano Beach, FL, Nephew Matt and Dawn Stahura of Salem, MA, Uncle Joe Zahorsky of Whiting, IN and Godmother Aunt Ann Resetar of Hammond, IN. Tom had a circle friends too numerous to mention individually. He will be greatly missed.

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Thomas J. Stahura

July 8, 1951 - March 11, 2015