SPARTA, THOMAS A., Sr. aged 83, formerly of Easton, PA; Midland, MI; Zurich, Switzerland; Athens, Greece; Milan, Italy; Las Vegas, NV and Stone Harbor, NJ, passed away on April 04, 2013 at his home in Stone Harbor, NJ. The son of an immigrant, the late Dr. Anthony J. Sparta and Sara (nee Reed) Sparta, he was born November 11, 1929 in Phillipsburg, NJ. He attended the Easton, PA public schools and graduated from Easton High School in 1947. After graduation from Lafayette College in 1951, he married Irene Foster of Easton, PA and began to work at the Naugatuck Chemical Division of the (then) U.S. Rubber Company prior to joining the National Printing Ink Research Institute at Lehigh University where he earned his M.S. Degree in 1956. After further graduate work at Indiana University and 3 babies (the girls), he joined Dow Chemical Company’s Chemicals Technical Service and Development department. In 1961, he transferred to Dow Chemical Europe in Zurich, Switzerland where he was instrumental in establishing Dow in the European Polyurethane business. The family moved to Switzerland with now 5 children, the youngest just a few months old. In 1964, he established Dow’s first Middle East sales office in Athens, Greece as the regional manager for Dows Middle East operations and the family moved to a small town outside of Athens. In 1966, he was named General Manager of Dow’s Italian operations in Milan, Italy and the family moved again where the next son was born. In 1968 he returned to Dow Headquarters in Midland, MI where for the next 13 years he held various positions in Chemicals and Plastics as business managers, marketing directors, Department General Manager and as the Corporate Product Director for Chemicals. While in Midland, MI another son and the 7th child was born. He coached and managed his sons’ Little League baseball teams for 8 years and served a term as President of the local Little League. In 1980 he returned to Dow Europe in Zurich, Switzerland as Executive Vice President for all commercial operations, marketing, sales and purchasing. He retired from Dow Chemical in 1988 and divided his time between his homes in Las Vegas, NV and Stone Harbor NJ and traveled considerably. He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Irene (nee Foster) Sparta of Stone Harbor, NJ and seven children, daughters: Nancy of Fox Island WA, Patricia and Julia both of Stone Harbor, NJ; sons: Thomas Jr. of Pittsburgh, PA; Michael of Nashville, TN; Daniel of Las Vegas, NV and Joseph of Stone Harbor, NJ. In addition he is survived by 20 grandchildren (Karrie, Sarah, Carly, Erin, Jim, Jessica, Jennie, Eddie, Alex, Mikey, Joey, Brennan, Bevan, Reed, Kyler, Kyra, Riley, Haley, Tommy and Zach) and 8 great-grandchildren (Alexandria, Jack, Seth, Leah, Grace, Sophia, Hannah and Brody); his sister Joan (nee Sparta) Evans of Huntington Valley, PA and many nieces and nephews, all he considered family. He will be missed by so many. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 111 South Independence Mall East, Suite 411, Philadelphia PA 19106.
BOWERSOCK, ROBERT After a battle with Alzheimer's, on July 22, 2025, Robert Bowersock “Big Bad Bob” passed away peacefully at home on the bay, surrounded by his loving family and graced with a beautiful sunset to end his final Chapter of Life. Bob was born on January 20, 1940.
July 25, 2025