Thomas Joseph Blanco II

Thomas Joseph Blanco II, 71, a long-time resident of Elyria, Ohio, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026. Born on September 26, 1954, Tom grew up in the local community and graduated from Elyria High School with the Class of 1973.

Following graduation, he proudly answered the call to serve his country, serving in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1978. As an Army medic stationed in Germany, Tom developed a lifelong commitment to caring for others—a trait that would define both his personal and professional life.

Upon returning home, Tom became a dedicated leader and community pillar, spending many years serving as the head of the Lorain County District Golf Association. His passion for the sport, commitment to local organization, and leadership left a lasting impact on the area's golf community and earned him the deep respect of his peers. Beyond his work on the greens, Tom's true passion was sports and community youth programs.

A die-hard, lifelong Cleveland sports fan, he spent decades riding the emotional rollercoasters of his beloved home teams, remaining fiercely loyal throughout every season. His deep love for the game shone brightest on local diamonds, where he dedicated many years to coaching softball for both Little League West and Little League North. Through countless hot summer doubleheaders, he taught hundreds of local players not just the fundamentals of the sport, but the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and resilience. Tom was also an avid thrill-seeker and a passionate lover of Cedar Point. He spent decades chasing the adrenaline of the park's biggest roller coasters, a tradition he joyfully passed down by taking his children and later his grandchildren to the park to share in the excitement and build lifelong family memories.

Tom was a longtime friend of Bill W.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Carol (nee Bittner) Blanco.

He is survived by his daughter, Carol Thompson and her husband, George; his son, Thomas Blanco and his wife, Lindsay; his five siblings; and his nine grandchildren, who will undoubtedly carry forward his love for the game, his adventurous spirit, and his dedicated community involvement.

Family and friends are invited to Reichlin Roberts Bollinger Funeral Home at 327 Cleveland Street in Elyria, Ohio on Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will immediately follow at 6:00 p.m., concluding with Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Tom's memory to the Samuel L. Felton, Jr. & Daniel P. Gillotti Valor Home in Lorain to support their vital mission of helping homeless veterans rebuild their lives and achieve independence.

To honor his military service and community involvement, blue attire is requested by the family. Thank you.

Reichlin Roberts Bollinger Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.