Obituary for Albert George Thomas
Alberto Jorge Thomas, 98, former long-time resident of Rutherford, NJ died peacefully at home in Secaucus, NJ on December 10th with his wife of 73 years by his side. Albert was born in Mercedes, Corrientes, Argentina. He began his military service at the age of 18 and was later selected to be a member of The Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers “Granaderos a Caballo”. As part of this elite cavalry, he was selected as Juan Peron’s presidential detail. He was Evita Peron’s personal detail once she became the First Lady of Argentina. After completing his military service, he moved to Buenos Aires and worked for a shipping company. On a visit to his hometown of Zarate, he met his future wife, Martha Paul, at a New Year’s Eve dance. “I knew I would marry her someday”, he recalled when telling his children and grandchildren their love story. They were married on April 3, 1948.
Albert and a business partner started a travel company, becoming the first company to offer escorted tours to the US, it is on one of the tours in 1955 where he made the determination to emigrate to the USA. They had three sons, Alberto Jorge, jr., Gustavo Julio Alejandro and Raimundo Esteban when Albert was hired by Lan Chile Airline in NY. They lived in NJ where they eventually settled in Rutherford, NJ in 1962. Their fourth son, Eric Paul was born shortly thereafter. After working for several other airlines, he became the US General Manager of Ecuatoriana de Aviacion. During his time as GM, he collaborated with the First Lady of Ecuador to send packages from the United States to Ecuador’s underprivileged citizens. One of his fondest memories of this time was being named Grand Marshall of the Latin American Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. During a brief move back to Argentina, their fifth son, Ronaldo Andres was born.
Years later, following the advice of a good friend, he started Gateways limousine. That became his first family operated business. With his wife and sons Ray and Gus, driving the limos, Eric serving as the company mechanic and Andy answering the phones the company was thriving. Soon, they had to choose between a limo company or a receptive tour operator. City Tours, USA, “la compania que habla su idioma” (the company that speaks your language) was born. Under the direction of Albert Thomas, sr. “Mr. New York”, as he was known by his clients, and touching the life’s of millions of travelers visiting the USA and Canada City Tours became one of the leading Receptive tour companies for Latin American and European travelers. For 41 years and with the hard work and dedication of his wife, sons, family, and countless friends near and far, City Tours, USA has survived recessions, the attack on 9/11, and more recently a pandemic. Personally, Albert and his wife survived the unfathomable loss of their son Gustavo and later the loss of Albert, jr. Through loss and grief, he stoically moved forward enjoying time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. “Granpito”, as his grandchildren called him found absolute joy in having them over for dinner and sharing his stories with them.
He leaves behind an empire built on the love of family, friends who became family, and hard work. Most importantly, he leaves behind family and friends and the countless people he touched who admired the man that was able to live the American Dream despite any obstacle in his way. Albert lived by his motto from his favorite song, “My Way”. He always did things “his way” and it turned out that his way was more than good enough.
Alberto Thomas, Sr. is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, his sons Raimundo (Penny), Eric (Johanna), Ronald (Marcia), Linda Thomas; his grandchildren Lauren Dimascio (Keith), Albert III, Robert (Marisa) Alexandra Cameron (David), Stephanie, Steven, Heather, Morgan, Erik, Shannon (Sam), Hannah, Matthew, Isabella and Vitoria; great grandchildren Brandon, Evan, Robert, jr, Ryan, Gemma, Reese and Maddox; He is also survived by his brother, Eduardo; his niece and nephews Santiago (Sandra), Juan Pablo (Vanina), Ezequiel (Ines), Maria Marta, Guillermo (Monica), Eduardo, jr. (Ingris), Alexander and Marcela and their children.
Albert was predeceased by his sons Gustavo and Alberto; his brother Guillermo, his daughters in-law Maureen and Linda.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday 5:00 to 8:00pm in the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home Funeral Home
Funeral Wednesday family and friends attending please arrive by 9:45 for a 10:30am Mass of Christian Liturgy in the Church of St. Mary 91 Home Avenue, Rutherford.
Services will conclude after Mass, committal is private.
Albert and a business partner started a travel company, becoming the first company to offer escorted tours to the US, it is on one of the tours in 1955 where he made the determination to emigrate to the USA. They had three sons, Alberto Jorge, jr., Gustavo Julio Alejandro and Raimundo Esteban when Albert was hired by Lan Chile Airline in NY. They lived in NJ where they eventually settled in Rutherford, NJ in 1962. Their fourth son, Eric Paul was born shortly thereafter. After working for several other airlines, he became the US General Manager of Ecuatoriana de Aviacion. During his time as GM, he collaborated with the First Lady of Ecuador to send packages from the United States to Ecuador’s underprivileged citizens. One of his fondest memories of this time was being named Grand Marshall of the Latin American Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. During a brief move back to Argentina, their fifth son, Ronaldo Andres was born.
Years later, following the advice of a good friend, he started Gateways limousine. That became his first family operated business. With his wife and sons Ray and Gus, driving the limos, Eric serving as the company mechanic and Andy answering the phones the company was thriving. Soon, they had to choose between a limo company or a receptive tour operator. City Tours, USA, “la compania que habla su idioma” (the company that speaks your language) was born. Under the direction of Albert Thomas, sr. “Mr. New York”, as he was known by his clients, and touching the life’s of millions of travelers visiting the USA and Canada City Tours became one of the leading Receptive tour companies for Latin American and European travelers. For 41 years and with the hard work and dedication of his wife, sons, family, and countless friends near and far, City Tours, USA has survived recessions, the attack on 9/11, and more recently a pandemic. Personally, Albert and his wife survived the unfathomable loss of their son Gustavo and later the loss of Albert, jr. Through loss and grief, he stoically moved forward enjoying time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. “Granpito”, as his grandchildren called him found absolute joy in having them over for dinner and sharing his stories with them.
He leaves behind an empire built on the love of family, friends who became family, and hard work. Most importantly, he leaves behind family and friends and the countless people he touched who admired the man that was able to live the American Dream despite any obstacle in his way. Albert lived by his motto from his favorite song, “My Way”. He always did things “his way” and it turned out that his way was more than good enough.
Alberto Thomas, Sr. is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, his sons Raimundo (Penny), Eric (Johanna), Ronald (Marcia), Linda Thomas; his grandchildren Lauren Dimascio (Keith), Albert III, Robert (Marisa) Alexandra Cameron (David), Stephanie, Steven, Heather, Morgan, Erik, Shannon (Sam), Hannah, Matthew, Isabella and Vitoria; great grandchildren Brandon, Evan, Robert, jr, Ryan, Gemma, Reese and Maddox; He is also survived by his brother, Eduardo; his niece and nephews Santiago (Sandra), Juan Pablo (Vanina), Ezequiel (Ines), Maria Marta, Guillermo (Monica), Eduardo, jr. (Ingris), Alexander and Marcela and their children.
Albert was predeceased by his sons Gustavo and Alberto; his brother Guillermo, his daughters in-law Maureen and Linda.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday 5:00 to 8:00pm in the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home Funeral Home
Funeral Wednesday family and friends attending please arrive by 9:45 for a 10:30am Mass of Christian Liturgy in the Church of St. Mary 91 Home Avenue, Rutherford.
Services will conclude after Mass, committal is private.