Dr. Thomas J. Stellers, Ph.D.

AUSTINTOWN-There will be Services at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Western Reserve United Methodist Church for Dr. Thomas J. Stellers, Ph.D., who passed away Friday morning at his residence. He was born May 22, 1940 in Dover, OH, a son of Joseph A. and Jane E. Stieber Stellers. He was a Biology teacher and yearbook adviser at Austintown Fitch High School before accepting a position with the Mahoning County Office of Education. One of his major accomplishments was the creation of the Area Cooperative Computerized Educational Service System(Access). Currently Tom was a Student Teacher supervisor at Kent State University, a Y.S.U. supervisor for the Department of Education and also graded the Educational Teacher Performance Assessments for the Pearson Company. He was a 1958 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and then earned his B.S. in Education in 1962 from Bowling Green State University. Tom received his Masters in Education from Kent State University in 1969 and his Ph.D. in 1973, also from Kent State University. He was a three term president of the Ohio Educational Data Systems Association, the committee chairman of the Ohio Educational Computer Network Management Council, liaison administrator for Ohios Project Leadership for six years, president of the Bowling Green State University Alumni Association Board of Trustees, alumni faculty, and the Chairman of INFOhio (program to automate Ohios school libraries). Tom received numerous awards during his career, including the Whos Who in Computer Management, the Whos Who in American Education, the Project Leadership "Number One" Award, the Directors Award and the Special Award, the Ohio Educational Data Systems Association "Outstanding Member", Bowling Green State University, Accomplished Graduate of the College of Education and Allied Professions, and the Outstanding Education Partner Award from Y.S.U. Tom was a member of Western Reserve United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the choir and taught a high school Sunday school class. He was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, a member of the Austintown Township Zoning Board of Appeals, a Board member of Austintown Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame, the Armchair Travelers Travel Club, and a former member of the Austintown Board of Education. Toms greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. He savored life and each day was a new beginning in which he would do his best to make life better for everyone that he impacted. Tom enjoyed specialty coffees, chocolate, and life in general. Tom had a collection of over 1,200 mugs and everyone of them had its own story. He was well read, had a love of technology, and had immense pride in being a life long learner. He enjoyed traveling and loved music and had been a member of the Austintown Fitch Band, the Warren Junior Military Band and the Bowling Green State University Band. Tom is survived by his wife of 47 years, the former Carol J. Crichton, whom he married Aug. 28, 1971; his sisters-in-law, Gail (Ron) Sudol and Carolyn Stellers, both of Austintown; his nieces and nephews, Brenda (Jim) Balog, Ron (Ann) Sudol, Mark (Angela) Sudol, David (Robin) Stellers, Burt Stellers and Christopher Stellers; his great nieces and nephews, R.J., Korey, Taylor, Blake, Hope, Gavin, Dylan, Jessica, Jacob, Joey, Matt, Caitlyn and Kayla as well as many treasured friends. Besides his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his brother, David M. Stellers and his in-laws, Thomas and Helen Crichton. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Western Reserve United Methodist Church and 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, prior to the Service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Toms name may be given to Austintown Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame, 4560 Falcon Dr., Austintown, OH 44515 or to Western Reserve United Methodist Church Youth Ministries, 4580 Canfield Rd. Canfield, OH 44406.