Dr. Thomas Joseph Kolda

Thomas Joseph Kolda of Westerville, Ohio passed away peacefully on August 24, 2025 at Mount Carmel East hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Gail, parents Amos and Cecilia Kolda, and brother Dennis Kolda of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on December 1, 1939, Tom graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he met his future wife, Gail; they were married on June 30, 1962. While at Coe, Tom was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternities and was also a disc jockey at KPIG and KCRG radio. Upon graduation, Tom had a progression of positions in the field of fund raising, primarily for colleges and universities including The Ohio State University, Marquette University, Coe College, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Case Western Reserve University.

Tom and Gail resided in Westerville, Ohio since 2006, where they had moved to be near their sons and their families. Prior to that, they had lived in several Midwestern and Southwestern states. Tom enjoyed playing accordion, following Drum Corps (in his youth, he was a member of the Cedar Rapids Cadets), rooting for the Buckeyes, Packers and Guardians, and enjoying his Czech heritage. Tom is fondly remembered by many friends as very engaging and humorous. He touched numerous lives with his endless story-telling and jokes.

A member of the Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, Ohio, Tom was very active in the Catholic church his entire life. He served as director of the Young at Heart senior group, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and sang in the Adult Choir with Gail. In addition, he previously directed the fund raising for a significant addition to the Saint Peter parish in Worthington, Ohio and served in various capacities for the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, Arizona.

He is survived by sons Brian and Jeff, daughters-in-law Dina Tantra and Twila Kolda, granddaughters Haley Klaas and her husband Joshua, Nadia, Addison, and Zoe, and great granddaughters Vivian, Vera, and Elsie.

Friends can visit and express condolences at the Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, Ohio on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 10am to 11am prior to the Mass of Memories starting at 11am. Interment will follow in the columbarium at Resurrection Cemetery in Lewis Center, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to The James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State or Church of the Resurrection, New Albany.