Thomas Stephen Gizinski died on March 18th after a sudden illness. He brought so much light and love into our lives and he will be deeply missed. Tom was born on January 17th,1952 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Tom hated the first grade. He was famous for hiding in a field every day instead of attending class. As the other children started home at the end of the day, he joined them as if he were a model student. This early truancy would surprise the many students who learned from him and loved him during his career teaching fifth and sixth grade math and science at Nations Ford and Elizabeth Lane Elementary Schools in Charlotte/Mecklenburg for over 25 years.

He loved sports, playing basketball and baseball in his youth and cheering for the Tar Heels at every opportunity. Tom attended Brevard College and worked for a few years before deciding he wanted to teach. He worked his way through the University of North Carolina Charlotte, where he earned his teaching degree.

Shortly after beginning his teaching career, he spied another teacher at his school who was always early to arrive. On the day he decided to ask her out, she was late to school and he missed his chance. Undaunted, he wrote a note asking her to dinner, stapled it closed and sent one of his students to hand deliver the request. On November 22nd, 1986, the math teacher married the kindergarten teacher, Susan Lewis Howell.

After both Susan and Tom retired from teaching, they moved to a mountaintop in Vilas, North Carolina. Tom continued sharing his gift of teaching by volunteering at Crossnore Children's Home, becoming so invaluable that he was hired to the position. They have been cherished members of Banner Elk Christian Fellowship, where they taught Sunday School for many years and where Tom served as an Elder.

Tom was the precious third son of Margaret and Edward Gizinski, and grew up in a lively home with three brothers and one sister. He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan, his sons Joe and Graham, his granddaughters Zoe, Eva and Gissel, his brother Richard (Clara), his brother Mike (Linda), his brother Don (Ruth), his sister Susan (Jimmy) and many nieces and nephews.

Everyone who knew Tom was very familiar with his corny jokes. If you asked him the cause of his death, he would have told you "shortness of breath", a quip he inherited from Susan's father. He loved to make the people he loved laugh, and groan. He will continue to make us all smile, as we remember how much we loved him.

Join us in celebrating Tom's life on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 11am at Banner Elk Christian Fellowship, 140 Woods Lane, Banner Elk, reception to follow.

If you would like to remember Tom with a memorial gift, please consider a donation to Banner Elk Christian Fellowship or High Country Young Life

High Country Young Life: https://giving.younglife.org/s/?GiftType=Area&Name=highcountry&AppealCodeId=70141000000

Banner Elk Christian Fellowship: https://www.becf.org/give

Online condolences may be sent to the Gizinski family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.