Born in Kosmati, Greece on November 3, 1929, Tom G. Tziahanas is survived by his loving wife of 62-years, Doreen Tziahanas; his four children, Becky Wyman, Mary Jane (Phil) Hourani, George (Julie) Tziahanas, and Peter (Anita) Tziahanas. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Benjamin, Miya, and Nick Hourani, Aron Wyman, Thomas Tziahanas, Alivia Wells, Brittni Koelsch, and Aysu Tziahanas; and his great-grandchildren, Alexander, Aliyah, Kody, Karter, and Zoey.
Tom Tziahanas grew up in in a small village in northern Greece (Kosmati), living a very modest, but as he recalled a “simple but happy” childhood until “the Nazi’s came.” Surviving the Nazi occupation, a massacre in his village, and the Greek Civil War, he immigrated to the United States in 1947 and settled with his parents, George and Vassiliki Tziahanas and Uncle James Tegopoulos, in the steel town of Farrell, Pennsylvania having arrived knowing almost no english.
Tom went on to learn english, excel in school, and started working at Sharon Steel; before being drafted into the U.S. Army. After serving overseas and being transferred to the First Infantry Division and trained as a Combat Medic on occupation duty in Germany (ironically), he was honorably discharged. Blessed by the availability of the GI Bill, and having been accepted to John Hopkins, Penn State, and the University of Michigan, he selected the latter.
He would go on to live the remainder of his life in Ann Arbor, where he worked, raised his family, and was committed servant and steward at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Ann Arbor. Having completed his undergraduate work, he took a job with the Ann Arbor Public Schools teaching special needs students in 1960. He went on to earn his PhD in Neuropsychology from the University of Michigan and spent his entire professional career as a psychologist for the Ann Arbor Public Schools, devoted to special education and at-risk students. Known simply to thousands he helped and worked with throughout his career as “Dr T.”, he finally retired at aged 70. His own background confronting unimaginable challenges allowed him to connect with students, parents, and colleagues from all backgrounds, always most concerned about those who had the least.
Thereafter he dedicated his life to the care of his wife, and to enjoy time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. After a sudden and terminal cancer diagnosis, he spent his remaining days doing the same, showing tremendous strength and commitment to his family throughout…but at peace knowing the full life he had led, the help he had brought to so many, his ever thankful and blessed family, and his deep Greek Orthodox Faith.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, at 10:00 am. A funeral service will take place at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Bethlehem Cemetery of Ann Arbor. Please remember to wear a mask and practice social distancing while attending funeral services.
For those interested in viewing the funeral services but are unable to attend, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be live-casting the funeral. Please visit their website Thursday at 11:00 am.
https://www.stnickaa.org/webcam.html
Memorial contributions can be made in Tom's name to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church or to the American Legion.