Thomas T. Jordan of Scranton passed away peacefully at The Hospice of the Sacred Heart on Saturday, August 23rd. He was the husband of Barbara (Barrett) Jordan, and the couple was approaching their 44th wedding anniversary on November 20th.

Born on November 10, 1941, Tom was the son of the late Angela (Moran) and William J. Jordan.  His childhood in Olyphant with his twin Mary Kay, brother Billy, and many friends provided fond memories of fun, excitement and mischief.  This was the foundation of an unbreakable sibling bond, that included a love and support cherished by Dr. Billy and Mary Kay as they faced their own health struggles later in life.

After proudly serving seven years in the Army Reserves while working at Consolidated Molding, Tom pursued his teaching credentials.  Tom spent 13 years earning his degree by attending "night school" at the University of Scranton while working full time, a noble accomplishment in those days and a feat that gave him great pride.  Tom enjoyed a long and fulfilled career as an educator that included commuting to Wycoff, New Jersey, and working on weekends driving buses for Martz and Greyhound.  In 1970, Tom received a teaching assignment in the Scranton School District at the Longfellow School, where he met his future wife, Barbara.  Tom excelled as a teacher and developed relationships with students that grew into life-long friendships.  He was undeniably meant to be a leader in his field.  In 1978, the District appointed Tom as a Principal, a role he thrived in, especially at his longest, final, and most-fulfilling professional assignment as Principal of Robert Morris Elementary School in Green Ridge.  For 20 years, Tom, along with an exceptional school community, solidified Robert Morris as the gold standard of the Scranton School District.  Over the years, many administrators viewed Tom as a mentor and would emulate his leadership style, including his favorite mentee, his son Peter.

Throughout his entire life, Tom had a natural desire for automobiles - an appetite that he passed onto his brother Bill, his sons, and several nephews and in-laws.  They would follow Tom's lead into becoming "car addicted," and he cherished his many auto endeavors with them, especially the endless days and nights spent in garages, car shows, flea markets, junk yards, and car lots. Most notably, Tom took multiple "rust buckets," as he would call them, and restored them into national award-winning and breathtaking classics.

As brilliant an educator and car expert as Tom was, he was most gifted as a father, grand-father, and husband.  For over 43 years, Barbara and Tom built a family together selflessly filled with love and devotion.  At the core of the couple's love for each other was their extraordinary guidance and raising of their two boys and four grandchildren.  Tom wouldn't want his story told without noting his great pride in his boys, endlessly boasting of his surgeon son Dr. Tommy following in his big brother Bill's footsteps and his son Principal Pete following in his own footsteps.  Above all, his biggest source of pride with his boys was watching them grow into being dedicated husbands and fathers, hoping to leave a legacy for their children as Tom did for them.

Tom was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law William Jordan, M.D. and Nancy (Connors) Jordan, sister Mary Kay Jordan, and brothers-in-law John and Jim Barrett.  In addition to his wife, Barbara, Tom is survived by his children, Thomas W. Jordan, M.D. and wife Caroline (LaBelle) of Newton Township, Pa; Peter B. Jordan, Ed.D. and wife Kathleen (Daly) of Scranton, Pa; his grandchildren Annie, Rosie, Peter, and T.J.; his in-laws Mary Elizabeth (Barrett) Laffey and husband Patrick Laffey; Debra (Fowler) Barrett, and Margaret Burke, as well as several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.

Tom's family would like to extend their sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Erin McFadden, Dr. Lisa Thomas, the medical professionals throughout the Lehigh Valley Health Network, the staff at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart and the many caretakers who played a vital role in loving and supporting Tom throughout his illnesses.

Tom was a devout Catholic and a faithful parishioner of St. Paul's Church.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, September 3rd at 10:00am at St. Paul's, 1510 Penn Avenue, Scranton.  Friends may call at the church on Tuesday, September 2nd from 4:00pm - 6:00pm and on Wednesday from 9:00am until time of service.  Interment, St. Patrick's Cemetery, Olyphant, Pa.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Morell-LaBelle Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association.