Dr. Thomas Joseph Rusk, Do

Thomas Joseph Rusk, 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, 2020 at Shepherd of the Valley Howland following a brief illness. Thomas was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 27, 1933, the son of Martin and Mary (Czech) Rusnaczyk, who immigrated to Cleveland from a village near Krakow, Poland. He grew up in the family business, a corner grocery in Garfield Heights, Ohio, first stocking shelves as soon as he could reach them. He was a graduate of Cathedral Latin and of John Carroll University. He continued his education at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, earning his Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 1961. He served in and was honorably discharged from the US Army Reserves in 1962. Following internship and residency training in Detroit, MI, he settled in Warren in 1964 and began practicing anesthesia at the former Warren General Hospital (WGH) in partnership with Dr. Joseph Ucchino. He was a longtime member of St Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. James) Roman Catholic Parish in Warren, the Trumbull County Medical Society, and was a life member of the Ohio Osteopathic Association. He served as Chief of Medical Staff at WGH and was active professionally until his retirement. Thomas enjoyed reading, listening to polkas and medical lectures, and especially, meandering drives in the countryside. Thomas is survived by his wife Patricia (formerly Creed), of Warren, whom he married May 27, 1967; four children, Mary of Warren, Pamela of Warren, Barbara of Placitas, NM and Thomas (Josie) and granddaughters Lena and Anna, all of Cooperstown, NY, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Albert, Joseph, Leo, Walter, Mary, and Frank. Private services are planned for interment at North Jackson Cemetery, North Jackson, Ohio. A celebration of life service is to be planned for the spring of 2021.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215.