Tom George Pascalenos

January 19, 1941 – October 11, 2023

Tom G. Pascalenos, 82, of Lansing, MI, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents George and Koula Pascalenos and brother Peter G. Pascalenos. He is survived by his sister Olga Pascalenos and several first cousins in Greece.

Tom was a lifelong resident of Lansing. He attended J.W. Sexton High School, class of 1958, where he graduated with high honors. He then attended Michigan State University where he continued to earn high honors in his academic studies in Social Science. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors. He was a proud member of MENSA for over 45 years. Tom was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lansing.

After teaching for a period of time at Jackson Community College and LCC he went on to work for the United States Postal Service. He spent most of his 27 years employed at the East Lansing Post Office. He enjoyed serving the customers and working with his coworkers.

He was a quiet, thoughtful and curious individual. He was a proud first generation Greek American. True to his nature he often wondered where a word came from. He would often comment, while watching the Scripps Spelling Bee, why there weren’t more Greek American participants, as they would have an advantage. His mother often pointed out how she sacrificed learning English so her children could learn to speak Greek. Of course, as a child he also attended Greek school (yes, that is a real thing) to learn how to write Greek as well as to speak it. All that paid off when, in 1965, his father took the family to Greece to meet all the relatives and see the family’s roots. Being able to speak with everyone made all the difference in the enjoyment of that visit.

While in Europe he seized the opportunity to obtain a Eurail Pass and took off by himself to visit Germany and Austria. He also got the permission needed to visit M. Athos. A few years later he loaded up his 1973 VW Beetle and drove cross country to see the country. He ventured off on many trips to fulfill his curiosity.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1701 E. Saginaw St., Lansing. Interment will follow in Deepdale Memorial Gardens. Visitation, at the church, will take place from 10-11 a.m. with the Trisagion prayer at 10:30 a.m.

Donations made be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Tom’s memory.

Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. www.EstesLeadley.com