Frank “Skip” Thomas

July 22, 1931 - October 20, 2020

Frank “Skip” Thomas, of Oakland, CA, passed away peacefully on October 20 at the age of 89. Born Francesco Geraldo Tomassi in Erie, PA, Skip’s laughter, insight, and passionate creativity infused all he did. A graduate of Chapman College, Skip came to the Bay Area in 1953 to study ethics at Pacific School of Religion. There, he met Nancy Noble, a fellow student who later became his wife. As a seminarian, Skip built houses in Puerto Rico and volunteered with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Later, he served as a street minister to beatnikera North Beach and, with Nancy, foster parented at a group home for teens.

Eventually, he left the ministry, and worked as a singer and chef until entering public education. He taught English in the Acalanes Union High School District for 30 years, and after retiring, became a long-standing volunteer at Thornhill Elementary School in Oakland.

Along the way, Skip took up violin making, wrote a number of manuscripts, learned to craft jewelry, and taught himself to sew and crochet. Above all, he was a husband, parent, and friend. Fully alive until the last, he practiced piano and voice daily, zipped around town in his PT Cruiser, and regaled us with tales from his welllived journey.

Skip is predeceased by his wife Nancy, foster son Sam Reich, and siblings Joyce Ann and Danny Carlson. He is survived by his children Dean (Rose), Gwen (Marc), and Doug (Lynda), sister JoAnn Hanson, and grandchildren Katie, Kyle, Danny, Miles, Keenan, Jordan, and Logan. Details regarding a memorial service will be announced at a later date.