05-03-2025
Thomas M. Pokabla, Youngstown, Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – We come together to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of Dr. Thomas M. Pokabla, who passed away at the Cleveland Clinic, surrounded by loved ones on the morning of Monday, March 3, 2025. After a brief illness, he transitioned from this world to Heaven on his own time and in his own way – one final last directive from Tom.
Tom was born right here in Youngstown on September 2, 1939 to Anna Kutlick and Michael 'Cobbs' Pokabla.
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He spent the rest of his years here in Youngstown after meeting his life-long love, Mary Josephine Anne Brannan. The doctor and the beautiful nurse. It was fate and a match making patient that brought the two together. They married on June 22, 1968 and were together until he passed, still holding hands as they did for 56 years of marriage.
Tom was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School where he is a member of the Woodrow Wilson Hall of Fame. He also graduated from Youngstown College, working at times 2-3 jobs to support himself through. He then went on to podiatry school at The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine after a chance encounter with a local podiatrist who peaked his interest in podiatric medicine.
Tom practiced medicine in Howland, Ohio for over 50 years in the same office with patients coming from all over Northeast Ohio to be cared for by him.
Together, Tom and Mary Jo had four children, Thomas (Julia Hawkins-Pokabla), Jr., Chris (Maygan) and Michael (Martina) and finally the daughter they always wanted, Jennifer (Rob) Lane. The love of his children knew no limits, no distance, and fostered a love of family that his children will carry for the rest of their lives and into their own families.
Beloved beyond measure were his grandchildren, Ava and Michael, Ellie and Zoe, Jace and Bode, Lauren and A.J., and a beautiful baby girl on the way… Just like with his own children, Tom's love of his grandchildren knew no beginning or end. If there was an event, Tom was there, trying to swindle his way into the best seat in the house to cheer them on win or lose.
Tom cannot be fully incapsulated by an obituary. He was a larger than life character who genuinely wanted to be a part of the lives of his loved ones. He greatly enjoyed his involvement with podiatric medical societies, the Howland Rotary, serving as it's president for several years, being on the sidelines at Howland High School football games as a team physician, directing the residency program locally for podiatry and podiatric surgery residents, and traveling to more countries and continents than can be listed. Always up for a bit of an adventure, Tom could be found out on Lake Erie on his boat, named the 'Mary Jo' in honor of his lady love, jet skiing into his '80s and water skiing well into his '60s, learning how to snow ski in his '40s along with his family, going to Teenie's Tavern for their fish and pierogi's during Lent, having a good cigar and glass of wine with a friend or his boys, getting over to Station Square as often as possible for an amazing meal with his wife, attending Slovak heritage events in and around the area, watching Seinfeld before he and his wife went to bed, talking with his brother Ted (Barb) on the phone about Nascar for the entire race, and trying his hand at fixing things around the house.
After retirement, you could find Tom at home having a late breakfast with his wife, at cardiac rehab at Mercy Health talking with friends and exercising to 'lose those last ten pounds', texting out funny memes to friends, sneaking a sweet treat or piece of peanut butter toast, at church, at his grandchildren's events, or still trying to learn how to speak German.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marie and sister, Joan, who have received Tom into Heaven with love. Tom also was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, as well as his sister-in-law, Kathleen Brannan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8 at St. Edward's Roman Catholic Church, 238 Tod Lane, Youngstown.
Friends may call 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the Lane Family Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, 5797 Mahoning Avenue, Austintown.
He will be laid to rest in the Lake Park Cemetery in Youngstown.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom's honor to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley or the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
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