Thomas Falkie

Thomas Falkie passed away peacefully in Newtown Square on Friday, November 1, 2019.

We lost a loving and accomplished father and grandfather on that day.

Born in Mt. Carmel PA to Victor and Aldona Falkie, coal miner and factory worker, respectively, dad was a proud Penn State grad ('56, '58, 61'mining engineering). All three of his degrees were attained on private merit scholarships for which he was forever grateful. His passions included golf, traveling the world and the United States and his annual family picnics with as many as 130 showing up for the party.

His professional career spanned private industry starting with International Minerals and Chemicals Corp. and ending at Berwind Natural Resources Corp. as President and Chairman. Between he was appointed Director of the US Bureau of Mines and headed the Department of Mining Engineering at Penn State. He received many industry awards including Distinguished Alumni of Penn State, Distinguished member of SME, honorary member AIME, and recipient of the Robert Stefanko award for Distinguished Achievement in Mineral Engineering. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and was inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame in 2017. He also served on several advisory boards at Penn State and in the mining industry. He was a pioneer in the emerging areas of computer application and management science in his industry.

During this accomplished career his family lived in St College, Skokie IL, central Florida (before Disney), northern Virginia and finally settling in Newtown Square for the past 43 years.

He is predeceased by wife Jean of Shamokin; his parents; brother Lenny and sister Sugar and several cherished in-laws and nephews and niece. Survived by children, Ann Marie Falkie, Thomas V.. Falkie,Jr., Lawrence W. Falkie, Michael J. Falkie, and Christine Mack(John); grandchildren Noah, Hanna, Emma and Frances, as well as at least 30 nieces and nephews, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews, poker and golf buddies and many friends in his profession.

The family would like to thank all of the many medical staff and caregivers in Pennsylvania and southwest Florida for their compassion and outstanding care.

If desired, please donate to a charity of your choice or to any Penn State scholarship fund in his memory.  Please know that dad was a humble man who treated everyone he met with kindness and respect.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 9, 2019 with Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM at St Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, in Newtown Square, PA, with a Viewing beginning at 9:00 AM at the church.  Luncheon to follow.