Thomas M. Running

Thomas Michel (Tom) Running, 82, of Anderson Township, passed away April 25, 2025.

He was born to Richard "Tom" Thomas and Emilie "Kay" Henrietta (Kaiser) Running on Aug. 15, 1942 in St. James, Minn.

After graduating high school in St. James in 1960, he served in the Air Force for four years. Following his honorable discharge in 1965, Tom graduated from Control Data Institute in Minneapolis, first in his class, and started a 40-year-long career working on computers, including programming, software, and supporting PCs, email systems, and help desks.

Tom moved to Cincinnati in 1968, where he would become a Bengals and Reds fan, including a Bengals season ticket holder for several years. Recently though, his days were often spent watching any Major League Soccer game he could find.

He married Janet Lynn (Vetrano) Royal on June 14, 1997 at the Heritage Center Arboretum in Anderson Township.

Outside of work and throughout retirement, Tom was a strong believer in reading and keeping the brain sharp with many hobbies, including becoming a HAM radio operator, playing music, learning photography, researching family genealogy, riding his motorcycle, wood turning, Nordic walking, keeping mason bees and learning about different types of gardening. He walked and completed the Flying Pig Marathon several times. He enjoyed spending time building things with his step-grandson and helping with his homework. He also volunteered as a tutor at the East End Adult Education Center. He often made book and web site recommendations to friends and family on topics he thought they'd find interesting.

His social life revolved around attending concerts and performing music, including his favorite instruments, the banjo, marimbula, and euphonium. He was an outstanding baritone player in high school, earning many top ratings at state contests. He was a member of several local bands throughout the years, including The Hills of Kentucky Dulcimers, NKY Acoustic Music Society, Cool Hand Ukes of NKY, and the New Horizons Band of Cincinnati, and was well loved for his talent and company. He also enjoyed attending music concerts at the Miami University Regional Artists Series.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; stepdaughters Tiffany Royal and Kathryn (Kate/Kat) Royal; step-grandson Philip Refuerzo; sisters Carol Friesen (Bruce) and Mary Bert (Jack); and many nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.

A celebration of life for Tom will be held on Saturday, July 19, from 2 -4 p.m. in the Community Room at the Anderson Center, 7580 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township, OH.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Tom's name to the following:

St. James Historical Society, 602 3rd Ave S., St. James, MN 56081

New Horizons Band of Cincinnati,10080 Zig Zag Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242