Obituary of Thomas J Sobers, Sr.

Thomas J. Sobers, Sr., age 92, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2015, in the home of his oldest granddaughter, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Wilkes–Barre, PA, on October 22, 1923. Thomas was a WWII veteran who served as a US Army Ranger in the Pacific Theater with the 6th Infantry Division. After the war, Thomas settled in Montclair, NJ, where he raised a family with his wife, Barbara. In 1950, he was sworn in to the Montclair Police Department as part of the largest class in MPD history. He and his partner were instrumental in the development of the MPD Narcotics Unit and started the PBA Christmas Party for the children of Montclair PBA. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and retired in 1988 after serving the Montclair community for over 37 years. After 65 years of living in the South End of Montclair, Thomas retired to Florida where he became active at Ascension Catholic Church, running the Bingo program, along with becoming an avid coin collector and football fan. He also became a lifetime Gold Card Member of the Knights of Columbus, attaining 3rd degree Knighthood, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the American Legion. Thomas was predeceased by his wife, Barbara; his parents, Anthony and Mary Sobers; and his sisters Margaret Caggiano, Florence Vino, and Mary Gregory; and his daughter-in-law Melissa Sobers. Thomas is survived by his sister Helen Schwartz of Wilkes-Barre, PA.; his 8 children, Thomas J. Sobers, Jr., and his wife Kristina of Livingston, Donna Sobers of Verona, Robert Sobers, Sr., and his wife Marilyn of Indialantic, FL, Mary Sobers Levitt of Montclair, Sharon Sobers of Mesa, AZ, Linda Sobers Chan and her husband Chung Wah of Montclair, Ralph Sobers of Lambertville, and Raymond Sobers of Montclair; his loving 16 grandchildren Thomas J. Sobers, III, Daniel Sanchez, William Sobers, Michael Levitt, Brian Levitt, Christopher Levitt, Meghan Tilli, Robert Sobers, Jr., Dayna Parisio, Kristen Kocsis, Jason Chan, Cara Mia Konzel, Shana Sobers, Steven Sobers, Michael Sobers, and Elizabeth Sobers; and 21 great-grandchildren. Donations in honor of Thomas J. Sobers, Sr., can be made to the PBA Local 53 Police Officers’ Children’s Christmas Party: 551 Valley Rd. Suite 53, Montclair, NJ 07043, attention Christmas Party.