Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) John Elias Tompros, 73, passed away on October 11, 2024. He was a caring husband, father, and grandfather, a strong community leader, and a servant of both God and humanity. He was humble, kind, and willing to lend a hand to any person in need.
John was born July 26, 1951, in Washington, D.C., the son of Louis John Tompros and Katie Marie (Kalleope) Leon.
John graduated from Oxon Hill High School in 1969, then went on to the University of Maryland, earning a degree in Political Science in 1973. He later earned his master’s degree from Golden Gate University.
John joined the Air Force in 1973 and served until retirement in 1996. Over the course of 22 years, he was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, Rhein-Main Air Base near Frankfurt, Germany, Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia, George Air Force Base in Victorville, California, The Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and Scott Air Force Base in Shiloh, Illinois. John retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, receiving the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Award, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.
John married Nancy Gayle Lawson on October 9, 1976, in Biloxi, Mississippi. John and Nancy were happily married for 48 years after meeting on a blind date in New Orleans, Louisiana. John and Nancy had two children, Louis William Tompros and Kalleope (Kalle) Rhea Tompros, and three grandchildren, John (Jack), Paul, and Margaret (Maggie). John has been a proud father-in-law to Karen Abrecht Tompros and Jim Comeau as well. John is also survived by his brothers, Michael, Andrew, and Thomas Tompros. His death follows the deaths of his mother and father as well as his brother, Paul Tompros, and his sister, Christina Stavros.
After retiring from the Air Force, John had a fruitful career as a government contractor at Computer Sciences Corporation for two decades, living in O’Fallon, Illinois. Then, after retiring from CSC, John was able to live out his dream of working at Busch Stadium, where he served as an usher for two seasons of Cardinals baseball. In 2021, he and Nancy moved to Danvers, Massachusetts, to be near their grandchildren.
John especially loved spending time with his family on road trips, playing and watching sports, and serving his community. John was president of the O’Fallon Breakers Swim Team from 2003 to 2011, a strong pinochle partner to all, and a founding member of his garage band, The Paramounts.
John was an active member of First United Methodist Church in O’Fallon, Illinois, where he taught second grade Sunday School with Nancy for 21 years. John also often led the children’s sermon, which always ended in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for everyone.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend John’s Funeral Service on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 10AM in St. John’s Episcopal Church, 27 Devens St. Charlestown. His burial with Military Honors will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. His visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 25, 2024 from 5PM to 8PM in The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown. Parking attendants provided at church and funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John’s memory may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).