GOSHEN — Anthony Thomas Jr., a man who fed the community for decades at The Lunch Box Restaurant and dedicated his life to helping others, died last week at the age of 84.
Known to everyone as either Tom or Tommy, Thomas served in many ways including as a longtime firefighter and town official over the course of a life that was largely spent in the Hilltowns.
“He really served his community, served his church, served his family, served his country,” said Brenda Lessard, Thomas’ eldest child. “He just gave of himself all the time.”
In addition to Lessard, Thomas’ other children are Tina Thomas, Anthony “Tiger” Thomas III and John Thomas.
“I think he had a good life completed,” said Tiger Thomas. “Superheroes are all around us, we just don’t know it.”
Thomas owned The Lunch Box Restaurant on Route 9 in Williamsburg from 1968 until he closed its doors in 2003. And for 27 of those years, Tina Thomas worked alongside her father at the place she described as “the second town hall of Williamsburg.”
“It was definitely a family atmosphere,” she said, recalling how The Lunch Box was a place where strangers would be seated next to one another within its small confines.
Thomas was also a longtime firefighter, serving in the Goshen Fire Department for 52 years, and simultaneously serving in the Chesterfield Fire Department for 20 years and Williamsburg Fire Department for 15 years.
“Whenever there was a fire, he just left the restaurant,” said Beverly Thomas, his second wife. “His commitment was not to his business as much as it was to helping everybody around him.”
The restaurant was also a popular hangout for other firefighters, and Tina Thomas recalled how “you would see six or eight people jump up,” when there was activity over the scanner, and how the restaurant would make sandwiches and coffee when there was a fire.
Thomas was also an EMT, and Tiger Thomas recalled how his father once ran out of the restaurant to provide lifesaving care in response to a car accident that happened in front of The Lunch Box. He said this wasn’t unusual behavior for his dad.
“That’s just the way he was,” he said.
Thomas was also a veteran, serving in the Coast Guard for eight years.
“He joined the Coast Guard, so he would not be taking anyone’s life,” said Beverly Thomas.
Thomas’ first wife, Celia Thomas, died of cancer in 1994. And it was around the time of her diagnosis that The Lunch Box became one of the first restaurants in the area to ban smoking indoors, although Tina Thomas said this policy did lose them some customers.
Beverly Thomas also lost her first spouse to cancer, and she and Thomas would have had their 20th wedding anniversary this year.
“I think we were very humbled. Very lucky to have come together,” Beverly Thomas said.
In addition to his service as a firefighter and as an EMT, Thomas also served as a member of the Goshen Select Board for 15 years, as town moderator and on the Board of Health, coached softball and co-chaired both the town’s bicentennial and 225th anniversaries.
“He was a guy who always gave more than he took,” said Tiger Thomas.
Tiger Thomas said he once tried to give his father business advice about the restaurant, and his father said that sometimes being rich conflicts with being good.
“I’d rather be good,” said Tiger Thomas, quoting his father. “I think it’s the better option.”
The Lunch Box’s building was located where the Cumberland Farms in Williamsburg now stands, and to mark its closing,Tina said that a “huge party” was thrown outside.
She also recalled the popular ham and pickle sandwich on the restaurant’s menu — a ham salad sandwich with a secret recipe — as well as the hundreds of breakfast sandwiches a day she and her father made over several days for the production of the 1999 film “In Dreams.”
“I started going to The Lunch Box and put ten pounds on,” recalled Beverly Thomas.
However at home, before and after the restaurant closed, she said that she did most of the cooking.
“And here I thought I married a cook,” she said.
Thomas’ faith as a practicing Catholic was also recalled by those who loved him.
“He always went dressed up” to church, said Beverly Thomas. “Coat, suit, tie, shoe’s shined.”
Thomas was also a Eucharistic minister, and Tina Thomas said when her mother got sick, her father became more devoted to the church.
Thomas died after a long battle with cancer, and was able to do so in his Goshen home. During this time, he was cared for by Beverly Thomas.
“She did a fantastic job,” said Brenda Lessard, of her stepmother. “She put in the most work.”
On Monday, flags lined the streets of Goshen and town flags were at half staff for Thomas’ funeral procession, which featured representation from police, fire and the Coast Guard.
“It looked like a mini-parade,” recalled Tina Thomas.
Later in life, Thomas accomplished one of his life’s goals and wrote and published a book, “The Lunch Box …….. Crossroads Of Williamsburg A Memoir.” And since his father’s death, Tiger Thomas has been looking through it.
“He kind of gave me guidebook of being a good person,” he said.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.