Andrew 'Tom' Seech, troubleshooting principal
Andrew Thomas "Tom" Seech, 84, of Wilmington, N.C., passed away suddenly Tuesday evening, Aug. 20, 2013, while vacationing at Great Lake, Maine with family.
He is once again joined with his beloved wife of 54 years, Anna Barbara (Dukovcic) Seech (3/18/1929-3/31/2008). Born Aug. 31, 1928, in West Aliquippa, Pa., the eldest son of the late Andrew and Mary (Mokranin) Seech, Tom is survived by his sister Mary Elizabeth (Seech) Olack and her husband Joseph; and brother George Richard and his wife Martha (Rybnicki) Seech. He was predeceased by his brother John David and his wife Rita (Dzuratsko) Seech. He is also survived by his four daughters, Mary Ann Kahl of Portsmouth, N.H., Andrea and husband Thomas Tarantino of Wilmington, Diane and husband James Murtha of Stuttgart, Germany, and Gabriella Bradham of Georgetown. He leaves 12 cherished grandchildren, John Thomas, Alex Michael, Andrew George and Elizabeth Ann Kahl; Nicholas Andrew, Peter Henri and Diane Louise Tarantino; Sean Andrew and wife Rachel (Allan) Murtha, and Stephen Thomas Murtha; Casey Lea, Christina Marie and Olivia Ann Bradham.
His extended family includes his wife’s five surviving siblings; 24 nieces and nephews; and 35 grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was happily anticipating the impending birth of two great-grandchildren in 2014. All of these people were dearly and unequivocally loved by Tom who taught us all what it truly means to serve as a family patriarch.
Tom served in the Navy at Whidbey Island, Wash.; received his bachelor’s degree from Geneva College and did his graduate work at University of Maryland, College Park. His career in public education included elementary school teaching for the Aliquippa and Prince George’s County, Md. school systems where he also served as a “trouble shooter” principal at multiple sites until his retirement. After moving from Aliquippa in 1963 family homes were in Lanham, Beltsville, Columbia, and Ellicott City, Md., and Point Farm and Ocean View. Tom’s well-known, loving spirit and endless kindness to family members and many friends during his lifetime will be forever cherished.
Visitation will be held Monday, Aug. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the chapel of Melson Funeral Services on West Avenue in Ocean View. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church on Garfield Parkway in Bethany Beach. Interment will be at Veterans Cemetery, Millsboro, at a later date.
