Thomas Novack

Thomas Gerald “Tom” Novack passed away peacefully at his Atlanta home on Nov. 3 at the age of 82. 

A native of Wisconsin and the only child of Steve and Elizabeth Novack, most of his childhood years were spent in the farming community of Belgium, Wis. His family lived above the tavern they owned, Steve’s Tavern. 

Tom attended school in nearby Port Washington for most of his early education. His love for the area and his friends there were so profound that Tom would return to Port Washington and the Belgium farming community each summer of his high school years to work. Prior to his sophomore year in high school, his family moved to Miami, Fla., where he graduated from Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School. 

After graduation, Tom joined the U.S. Air Force and trained at Syracuse University as a Russian language specialist. After proudly serving in the U.S. Armed Services, he began a long and distinguished career with BellSouth. He retired from BellSouth in 1991 and began his second career as a full-time volunteer at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, Ga. 

Tom was preceded in death by his loving wife Joanne and his parents Steve and Elizabeth Novack. His devotion to caring for his mother in her later years was a true testament of the love their family shared. 

Tom met the love of his life, Joanne Stamm, in Miami, where she was working for Eastern Airlines. They were married for 52 years before she died in 2019. Tom’s love for Joanne was an inspiration to all married couples. He cared for her through her battle with Alzheimer’s with true devotion and gentle love. 

Though the couple had no children of their own, hundreds of St. Pius X students and faculty looked up to them as parent figures through their high school years and beyond, many remembering the couple on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. 

Tom Novack was a lifelong sports fan and a collector of sports memorabilia. His favorite teams were the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Green Bay Packers, Notre Dame Irish and the St. Pius X Golden Lions. On his final day, he cheered his Atlanta Braves on to their World Series title. 

His sports memorabilia collection brought him much joy in life as did the sale of these items in recent years, which he generously donated to support his beloved St. Pius X. Notably, the concession stand at the St. Pius X stadium was named for Tom and Joanne in honor of their 25 years of service that greatly enriched the school community. 

Tom was known by all as a kind, warm, generous and very dedicated man! He loved God and his Catholic faith and was a devoted parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Atlanta. He was an extraordinary example of Christ’s love in this world. There is no doubt that Tom Novack had a profound impact on thousands of people who were blessed to have known him. 

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2855 Briarcliff Rd., Atlanta, Ga. 

A wake was held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Pius X Catholic High School. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Novack Family Scholarship Fund, St. Pius X Catholic High School, 2674 Johnson Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30345