George Edward Thomas

George's photo courtesy of the Boston Red Sox Baseball Club

George Edward Thomas, 88, rounded third and arrived safely home with Jesus, his Lord & Savior on October 23, 2026, in Sarasota, Florida. George departed peacefully surrounded by his beloved family.

Born on November 29, 1937, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, George was the son of George Everett Thomas and Kathryn Cecilia (Wolfe) Thomas. His grandfather was also George Edward Thomas, so the family settled on “Tommy” to keep everyone straight. The middle child, he grew up alongside his older brother, Gerald “Jerry,” and younger sister, Kathleen “Kathy.” Jerry would become his childhood hero, lifelong inspiration, and baseball teammate.

George graduated from Bloomington High School in 1955, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball.

He attended the University of Minnesota from 1955 to 1957. The brothers got their chance to play together in 1957, with George at shortstop and Jerry on the mound. It was a great family combination. After that season, the Detroit Tigers signed both brothers to major league contracts—a testament to their talents.

From 1957 to 1971, George played professional baseball for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Minnesota Twins. He appeared on nine baseball cards, giving collectors a lasting reminder of his playing days. One of the highlights of his career came in 1967, when he played in the World Series for the Boston Red Sox—the unforgettable “Impossible Dream” team. George remained a beloved member of the Red Sox family for years, delighting Fantasy Camp participants and reunion crowds with his remarkable wit.

During these years, George also served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962.

In 1964, while playing for the Detroit Tigers, George met Diane May on a blind date after a game. It was love at first sight, and they married during the off-season in 1965. Diane was the love of his life and his partner in the many adventures that followed. Over 61 years of marriage, they built a beautiful family and a life rich in faith in Christ, love, and laughter; creating countless memories with their three devoted and loving daughters, and many dear friends in Burnsville, MN, Amery, WI and Sarasota, FL.

After his playing career, George returned to the University of Minnesota, where he served in another utility role as assistant coach under Dick Siebert from 1971 to 1978 as well as advisor of the Gopher cheerleaders and director of the Williams Fund. He was named head coach in 1979 and remained in that role until 1981. His former player, later assistant coach and dear friend, the late John Anderson, went on to lead the Gopher baseball program for 43 years. Throughout those decades, George remained a cherished member of the Gopher baseball family, offering friendship, encouragement, perspective, and no doubt, a few well-timed observations.

George went on to a successful business career in the audio-visual packaging industry, namely Blackbourne Inc. and Sunrise Packaging.

Yet George's greatest gift was his investment in people and how well they succeeded. He understood that coaching and mentoring extended well beyond the playing field. The lessons he shared-about baseball, about hard work, about character, and about life stayed with his teammates, players and associates long after uniforms and neckties were put away. In that sense, he considered his largest investment, and his most important successes, to be his family – remarkedly reflected in his devotion to his loving and beautiful wife and daughters, and his super-powered grandkids.

George’s impact cannot be measured in box scores or a season’s records. It lives on in the people whose characters he helped shape and the friendships he nurtured.

George was preceded in death by his parents, George and Kate Thomas; his siblings, Jerry (Muriel) Thomas and Kathy (Roger) Donley; his parents-in-law, Verne and Lee May; his brother-in-law, Richard May.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Diane; his three daughters: Leslee (Patrick) Donovan, Kristin (Darren) Smith and Jennifer (David) Christenson; and six grandchildren: Grace and Cecilia Donovan; Caleb (Kelly), Luke (Genevieve), and Katie Smith; and Maxwell Christenson. He also leaves behind nieces, nephews and cousins, and countless acquaintances and friends who became family along the way.

The family will receive friends for visitation and viewing from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel, 15800 37th Ave N, Plymouth, MN 55446

A funeral service celebrating George’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 16, 2026, at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN, with visitation one hour prior. The service will be livestreamed at www.cpcedina.org/memorials.

Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery will be the following day attended by his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gopher Baseball Program at the University of Minnesota https://bit.ly/gopherbaseball or to the Red Sox Foundation Inc. P.O. Box 411217 Boston, MA 02241, or online at redsoxfoundation.org/donate/