Dr. Thomas Jaski, age 74, passed away on Saturday, August 1st with his family at his side. Tom was born on June 24, 1941, in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Stanley and Pauline Jaski. He attended Fairfield Preparatory School and went on to graduate from Boston College and St. Louis University Medical School. He finished his residency training in St. Louis, and then was accepted into the Yale-New Haven program where he did his Gastroenterology Fellowship. From 1971 – 1973, Tom served his country in the United States Air Force at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dr. Jaski and his wife, Peggy, were married in 1968 and have three children – Tom, Kim and David. They moved to Rutherfordton in 1973 where he began his medical practice with Norris-Biggs Clinic and later, Rutherford Internal Medicine Associates. Tom practiced internal medicine and gastroenterology for 33 years in Rutherfordton, and his dedication to the medical field extended to his service on the Rutherford Hospital Board of Trustees (1990-2014), The Rutherford Hospital Foundation Board (2009-2014)and as a Preceptor for UNC Chapel Hill for 19 years. In 2001, he was honored for his Preceptor work in training and mentoring UNC medical students and was inducted into the Eugene S. Mayer Community Service Honor Society. Additionally, Tom served on the board of the Rutherford Polk McDowell District Health Department from 2009 to 2014.

Tom had a strong devotion to his faith, his family and his friends. He was an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic church, and his hobbies included golf, reading and visiting his family and 10 grandchildren. Dr. Jaski is survived by Peggy, his wife of 47 years, as well as their three children – Tom and Christy Jaski and their four daughters - Lucy, Lauren, Anna Claire and Lily; Kim and Scott Williamson and their children - Caroline, Matthew and Katie; and David and Magee Jaski and their sons - Ben, Will and Chase. Tom is also survived by his sisters - Irene Bozogan, Rita Shepard, Marge West, Betty Phelan, Mary House and brother Joe Federowicz, and their families.

Tom’s life will be celebrated with Rosary and visitation with the family at Crowe’s Mortuary on Thursday, August 6th at 6pm. On Friday, August 7th, there will be a funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 3pm.
Those desiring to make a memorial contribution in Dr. Jaski’s memory are encouraged to consider his church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Capital Campaign at 1024 W. Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043; The RHI (Rutherford Hospital Incorporated) Legacy Foundation at PO Box 352, Rutherfordton, NC 28139; or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at Memorial and Honor Gifts, PO Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis TN 38148-0142.