Thomas Michael Yurkovich

Thomas Michael Yurkovich was born on September 29 ^th , 1935, and passed away on April 9 ^th , 2023, in Globe, Arizona.

Thomas was raised in Eveleth, Minnesota; a son who was very proud of his immigrant parents Slovenian and Creation heritage. As a young man my father often helped supplement the family’s mining income by hunting, fishing, and gathering wild blueberries and cranberries to be sold life near the Boundary waters was beautiful. They were a hardworking and resourceful family, staking out their dreams in Minnesota’s Iron Range. I am sure that these lessons of tenacity and hard work combined with a God given talent forged my Father into the incredible athlete that he became.

As a young man growing up in Eveleth, Hockey was king, and my father was destined to be royalty. Hockey had many doors; indoors, outdoors, and then it opened the door to higher education. My father received a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Dakota and played goalie throughout college. After University, Thomas worked as a Systems Engineer for I.B.M. and went on to play semi-professional hockey for the Rochester Mustangs from 1957 to 1969. Thomas was chosen to play goalie for Team U.S.A. in the World Hockey Championships in both 1961 and 1966. In his hockey career, he was even fortunate enough to play in such venues as Madison Square Gardens in New York. Thomas viewed the apex of his hockey career to be representing the U.S.A. Olympic Team as their goalie in Innsbruck, Arstria in 1964. His European tours made many great memories; one he recalled with great fondness came while playing in a tournament in Yugoslavia. He and a fellow team member, both of whom were introduced as descendants of the Slovenian Nativesons were given even louder cheers from the crowd than the introduction given to President Tito. Like they say, “you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.” Thomas would later continue his love of hockey by transitioning from player to refereeing college teams from Notre Dame to Michigan Tech; and was on a plane every Friday to drop the puck. Even though my father was known for his goal tending abilities, very few skaters shared either his grace or his strength on ice. My father brought so much experience to the rink. In his final chapter of hockey, he volunteered to coach goalies at a local high school. Weekly he baked homemade bread for his boys, and he was known to leave a trail of jellybeans on the boards. A fun and loving man with a sincere heart.

As the ice melted and Spring unfolded, the hockey skates would be exchanged for gold clubs, and this too was another sport where he reigned supreme. Hockey came with its own dress code, but gold left much room for creativity- which of course my father embraced wholeheartedly. Think Rodney Dangerfield look alike who rarely left the top purse behind!

My father had an amazing memory, especially when it came to sports. My father in his time could recall every shot, by whom and its proximity whether it be hockey or golf. It was not so much the final score, but the sportsmanship in which it was applied to the love of the game, that was my father’s passion.

Thomas Michael Yurkovich is truly one of a kind. A man of many words of the social variety banter- but few of those truly close to his heart. My father lived fully and received an Easter passage- we know who played for the home team! We love you very much and are so proud of you. Sharpen those CCM’S Daddy, we’ll be seeing you at the rink. Thomas is survived by his Wife Pamela Yurkovich, sister Pasty Surina, daughter Sarah (Kenneth) Bernstein and grandchildren Alexander Day and Eleanora Bernstein.

• Don and Jan Blattie, children Linda (John), Mark, and Jay.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.

Assisting the family; Lamont Mortuary of Globe located at 328 S. Hill St., Globe, AZ. (928) 425-5491