Thomas Salisbury Apter

Thomas Salisbury Apter most recently of Loveland, Colorado, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on July 2, 2019. He was born on July 14, 1926, to parents Thomas Apter and Helen Starr Apter. He was the youngest of three children, and was predeceased by sisters Ellen Apter Liljedahl and Janet Apter Trubee. He is survived by his loving wife of over 70 years, Alice Hines Apter, and their 3 loving children, Connie, Doug, and Carolyn, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Tom served in the Navy during WW II. He was the Sonar Man on two minesweepers in the Pacific Theater from 1944-46, YMS #113, and YMS #170. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy and returned home to Cambridge, Ohio to marry his high school sweetheart, Alice. They moved to Granville, Ohio where he attended Dennison University. After he was admitted to the Pharmacy School at The Ohio State University they moved to Columbus, Ohio. They became life-long Buckeye Fans and traveled to many OSU football games throughout their lives. Following graduation from OSU they moved to Cleveland, where he worked at Gable’s Drug Store. He and his friend from pharmacy school, Bill Bainbridge, decided to open Independence Pharmacy. He owned the Independence Pharmacy for decades and was an active member of the Independence, Ohio, community, where he attended church and served in the Independence Kiwanis Club, and many other organizations and social clubs. He was also a member of the Chagrin Valley Country Club, and golf was one of his passions throughout his life. Once he sold his business, they moved around the country, and lived in Wilmington, North Carolina; Aiken, South Carolina; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Phoenix, Arizona; before they settled in Aurora, Colorado, and more recently, Loveland. Everywhere they went they made good friends and always sang in the church choir. Tom was an avid golfer, (he actually hit 2 hole-in-ones); played competitive tennis, and even sang in a barbershop quartet in Hot Springs Arkansas. Always philanthropic, he organized many golf tournament fundraisers to benefit the American Cancer Society. In retirement, he rekindled his hobby of painting and, for years, sent out many hand-painted cards for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. In addition to the greeting cards, he was a prolific painter, and it gave him much joy to spend time doing something that he loved. He also led many bible study classes, and reading and studying the bible were also his passions. Services will be held in Denver, Colorado at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Avenue, on Thursday, August 22nd, at 10:30 A.M. followed by a reception at the Pinehurst Country Club, 622 W. Quincy Avenue. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society or Pathways Hospice of Fort Collins, Colorado