T.J. Lederer, measured wealth in friendships

THOMAS JOHN LEDERER had his hands full with all those kids.

There were his own six children, followed by 16 grandchildren, not to mention nieces and nephews - and even neighborhood youngsters, for whom he was a surrogate father.

But Tom loved it. He never lost his zest for living or his optimistic attitude. If you asked him how he was doing, he'd invariably say, "I never had a bad day."

Tom Lederer, a retired surveyor for the city Water Department who helped run water lines across many Philadelphia parks, a lover of nature who planted gardens in his neighborhood and who taught the kids to look at the stars, collapsed and died Thursday behind the wheel of his car on I-95, south of Savannah, Ga. He was driving back to Philly from Cocoa Beach, Fla.

His wife of 56 years, the former Rita Lavery, took the wheel and guided the car safely across four lanes of traffic to the side of the highway.

"My mom is convinced that Pop left us while driving, having just affirmatively responded to her offer of an ice coffee," said their son Gerard.

Tom was 77 and lived in Fishtown.

Big families were a Lederer tradition. Tom was the ninth of the 11 children of Miles and Susan Lederer of rowhouse Shackamaxon Street in Fishtown, from where his late father became a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature and was chairman of the Democratic Party in the '40s.

Of Tom's seven brothers, two - the late William and Raymond - were members of the Legislature, with William becoming a Common Pleas Court judge and Raymond being elected to Congress. Brother Francis was the former chief of Philadelphia County detectives.

Tom opted for a job in which he could enjoy the outdoors. And he tried to encourage all the children under his guidance to appreciate nature as well.

"He taught every child who wanted to know how to read the stars and how each of the constellations came by its name," said his son Thomas Jr. "That was my dad. He taught us to look to the stars, but have our feet firmly planted in our neighborhood."

Tom Sr. graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 1952, and went to work for the Water Department.

He married Rita in 1956. They were born two days apart in September 1934, and met in kindergarten at St. Michael's School. They remained friends and classmates throughout grammar school.

"My father never had a date with anyone but my mother," Gerard said.

Tom was an outstanding athlete in his youth.

He played basketball and ran track at Roman Catholic.

"One time, he walked from Philadelphia to Atlantic City in a single day, just to test himself," Gerard said.

Daughter Mary Sue Lederer Sears said the key to knowing her father was his philosophy of life.

"He would promise you good luck in exchange for a kiss, and told all who asked that he never had a bad day," she said. "He meant it. He sought to impart that lesson to each of his kids and grandchildren.

"And while all of us will miss him terribly, we will honor his outlook that people are inherently good and that life is for living."

"We know the world is a little sadder place today for the loss of my dad," said son Miles.

"Our sorrow and pain, however, is kept at bay as we hear from family, friends and neighbors from across the nation and across the generations tell us what our dad meant to them.

"My father never measured his wealth in dollars. He measured it in friendships. He left us a very wealthy man, and bequeathed to us a legacy of family and friends worthy of envy."

After learning of their father's death, his six children drove to Georgia to be with their mother.

"My dad leaves some huge shoes to fill," said son Sean, "and we figured it would take all six of us to even make a start.

"We all smiled and realized that it was Pop just once again bringing the family together as only he could. We also saw the strength in my Mom that he always admired."

Tom Lederer was a board member of the Roman Catholic Alumni Association, past president of the St. Joseph Prep Father's Club, chairman of the Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Committee and leader of Boy Scout Troop 488.

He was an award-winning gardener, a member of the Horticultural Society of Philadelphia and Penn State's Gardening Progress program.

He planted gardens and trees throughout the neighborhood known as Kensington South, especially around Hancock Playground.

He also planted gardens at John Moffit Elementary School.

Besides his wife, four sons and a daughter, and a brother, he is survived by another daughter, Meghan Campion; a sister, Mary Lederer Malloy; and 16 grandchildren.

Services: Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Michael's Church, 1441 N. 2nd St. Friends may call at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church at Philadelphia 19122, or La Salle Academy, 1434 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia 19122.