Thomas D. Kitz, 57, passed away Tuesday night, March 3, 2009, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. His loving and devoted wife of 31 years, Barbara Szabo Kitz, and his three beautiful children, Andrew, Meredith and Steve, survive him. Also surviving are his brothers, Michael (Mary), Tim (Beverly), Kevin (Lori), and his sister, Marianne (Lee) Sanzenbacher; along with many nieces and nephews. His parents, Donald and Helen Kitz preceded him in death. Tom was a family man first, and had a wide circle of friends with whom he shared his many interests. He lived life with an extraordinary exuberance and gusto. His deep infectious laugh that welled up from his toes was known to reverberate throughout the house. A lover of all outdoor activities but particularly fly fishing, hunting and golf, he was a past Champion of the Bogey Busters Thursday Night Golf League at Ottawa Park. Tom was especially fond of the ten years he spent as a youth hockey coach and board member at SMAHL. He formed many close and lasting friendships during those years and considered it a privilege to have been an influence in the lives of so many young men. Coach Tom was a surrogate father to many of the boys he coached. A 1969 graduate of Central Catholic High School, Tom worked his way through the University of Toledo as a copy boy at The Blade. He graduated from UT in 1976, and joined Szabo Builders in building homes in Oregon. A founding partner in American Property Analysts, a Toledo-based, commercial real estate appraisal firm, Tom specialized in recreational property of all kinds, coast to coast. Clients and peers commonly considered him one of the country's foremost experts in the valuation of golf and ski resorts. It was an occupation in which his friendly manner and easy charm served him very well during his 25-year career. Holding the prestigious MAI and FEOE designations, Tom was a past director and regional representative of the Cardinal Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. For the past year Tom mounted a valiant battle against a relentless enemy. He called all of those who were involved in his care his special angels. The family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and staff at the Toledo Clinic, UPMC, Bay Park, and Flower Hospitals for their warm, loving and expert care. Visitation will be held from 2 until 9 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009, at the Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 S. Coy Rd. Funeral services will begin in the funeral home on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and proceed to St. Ignatius Church for Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. Interment will take place in St. Ignatius Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or charity of the donor's choice. Visitation: Friday, 2:00 - 9:00 p.m. Services: Saturday, 11:30 a.m. Interment: St. Ignatius Cemetery