Thomas Carmine (Tom) Misitano
- Birth: September 14, 1931
- Death: November 26, 2006
- Marriage: February, 1955 to Kathleen (Coke) Knicely
- Marriage: Cynthia Jodon
- Military Service: 2/16/1951 to ?????,
Company H 3rd Battalion 7Th Marines 1st Marine Division
Reinforced Fmf Co Fleet Post Office San Francisco Calif, Pearl
Obituary in Altoona Mirror,
Thomas C. Misitano Sr., 75, Altoona, died Sunday at home, surrounded by his loving
family after an extended illness. Thomas was born in Altoona, son of the late Frances
(Mollica) and Francis Misitano.
He had attended Altoona High School. Thomas was a veteran and served in the
U.S. Marine Corps as a corporal during the Korean conflict. He retired from Iron Worker's
Local 772. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking and spending time with his family.
Surviving are his wife, Cynthia (Jodon); Sisters-in-law: Nora Misitano, Alice
Misitano, and Lois Misitano.
Thomas was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters; first wife Kathleen
(Knicely) Misitano; and daughter Frances Hammond.
Nephew Jim Jr's Final Notes
Growing up, Uncle Tom and his wife Aunt Coke (Kathleen) were the youngest of our aunts and
uncles, and the most relatable to their nephews.
While I didn't know it at the time, Uncle Tom was an iron-worker, and spent significant portions
of his day lugging around heavy steel reinforcing bars (rebar) for concrete construction, not to
mention his training and physical discipline from years as a U.S. Marine. He would often play a
game with his young nephews, wherein he would allow us to touch his normal feeling albeit large bicep,
and then he would pretend to inflate the bicep by blowing on his thumb, at which point his bicep
would grow substantially, and achieve a rock-hard feeling. Being young and naive, we all bought his
story, but he nevertheless did indeed have incredible muscles his entire life.
His wife, Aunt Coke to us, was stunningly attractive while being gracious and sweet to her nephews.
They had a summer cottage that they had access to in Sinking Valley, about 10 miles southeast of Altoona.
I was invited to spend a week there one summer, and I remember Aunt Coke telling me to play a prank on
Uncle Tom, who didn't yet know I was visiting, and was coming home late from work. She suggested that
I hide in a closet and make noises when he arrived to make him think there was a ghost in the house.
I took that a bit too literally and began vocalizing OOOH OOOH sounds when he came in, which immediately
led to my discovery amid his confusion. Aunt Coke later explained that she meant that I should scratch
the floor and wall in the closet to make it sound like a small animal was loose in the house. Anyway,
fun times were had in their company.
In later years after their children had started having families of their own, Aunt Coke would always
have an epic Christmas Eve party, complete with endless treats and goodies, and a gift-opening session
complete with a Rent-a-Santa to inspire awe among toddlers and grown-ups alike.
- Jim Jr.
Christmas Eve at Coke's House, late 1990's, Coke, Santa and Jim Jr pictured
