Thomas Alexander Furgas

Tributes for noted local composer, artist and poet, Thomas Alexander Furgas are pouring in following his passing to the Lord’s repose on Nov. 14, 2025. He was 71.

He was the third of seven boys born to Steve Michael and Ida Marie (McSwain) Furgas. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Timothy, Michael, Paul and John. He leaves his brothers, Steve and Jim and sisters-in-law, Jane (Maruskin) and Ruth (Sinz) as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins to cherish his memory.

He often said, “I think my real love of music began in kindergarten at Stambaugh School, when I was 5 years old. The teacher, dear Mrs. Loag, would play the piano while we kids were seated on the floor, singing nursery rhymes and folk songs.” She noticed that he would follow along playing a pretend piano and encouraged his parents to begin piano lessons, which they did. He attended Byzantine Catholic Central, West Junior High and graduated from Chaney in 1972. He went on to study at YSU’s Dana School of Music.

His artistic and musical interests were distinctly avant-garde. In the early 1980s he began producing recordings for the experimental music community. This blossomed to a full scale passion over the years and he was highly regarded as “… reflecting a curious and unconventional spirit.” His work did not go unnoticed and he was interviewed by Keyboard, OP and similar magazines. He also corresponded and collaborated with John Cage. His "Concerto For Prepared Piano And Strings," was one of the results of that collaboration. He was recently featured on KOWS radio station. The station is planning a tribute in his honor.

His published CDs required designing album covers which led to his interest in art. He was accomplished in a variety of mediums. He was extremely prolific and experimented in collage, watercolors and oils. His work was displayed at the Butler Museum. He studied art intensely and would serve as personal docent for family when visiting museums.

He was also a writer, contributing articles and reviews for various publications. He contributed poems for other authors and in 2023, Luna Bisonte Productions commissioned a book of poems and art. The book “tom furgas: unnumbered poems and drawings” was published in July of that year.

You can sample his music and art works at https://tomfurgas1.bandcamp.com/.

Services will be at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, 356 S Belle Vista Ave. Youngstown, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Calling hours will be from 10 to 11 a.m. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations for the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, 1300 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Youngstown, Ohio 44510. https://rescuemissionmv.org/donating/.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kinnick Funeral Home in Youngstown.