Thomas Bennett

Thomas J. Bennett, 63, ofDuluth, passed away athome of natural causes on May 24, 2012.Tom was born July 22,1948 to Jack J. Bennett andAmelia (Peredney) Bennettin Detroit, Mich.He graduated from highschool in Detroit andearned Bachelor of Artsand Master of Arts degreesfrom Michigan State Universityin East Lansing intelecommunications. Tomwas drafted into the U.S.Army following college andhe served during the VietnamWar era as a broadcastproduction specialist. Helater completed a secondgraduate program at MSUin communications as wellas earning a mini-MBA innon-profit managementfrom the University of St.Thomas in St. Paul.Tom and Lois (Gorka)were married in 1975 in Indianapolisand both of themloved the excitement of developingtheir careers andmaking new friends in newcities.With a career in televisionmanagement spanning30 years, Tom worked aspromotion director, accountexecutive, local sales manager,and regional salesmanager for network televisionstations in Indianapolis,Green Bay, East Lansing,and West Virginia. Tomjoined WDSE-TV PBS 8 inDuluth in 1996 as the stationsDevelopment Directorfor six years. He later wasnamed Director of Developmentfor the Lake SuperiorCollege Foundation in Duluthand then Vice Presidentof Sales for DuluthDukes Baseball.Before he retired, Tomwas active in the DuluthChamber of Commerce andits membership and businessdevelopment programs.He loved his family,the North country, the arts,nature, Michigan State University,the Gunflint Trailand especially Lake Saganagain the Boundary Waters.Preceding him were hisparents; his only sibling,Lynn Bennett; and fatherin-law, Walter L. Gorka.Tom is survived by hiswife, Lois; mother-in-law,Bertha Bert Gorka of Indianapolis;brother-in-law,Walter Wally R. Gorka ofIndianapolis; nephew, SteveGorka and niece, Julia Gorkaof Minnesota; the Bennettfamily in Michigan, Indianaand Pennsylvania;and many cousins, cousinsin-law, and dear friends.PRIVATE: family tributeto Tom will be held at a laterdate.