Thomas Aquinas Coyle

Thomas Aquinas Coyle, 76, of Minersville, passed away Thursday evening, November 7. Born in Lost Creek, PA on June 1, 1937, Thomas was a son of the late John V. and Marie C. (McAndrews) Coyle, Sr. Thomas graduated from the Girardville High School in 1955 and attended Wyoming Seminary Post Graduate Prep School in 1956. Thomas then accepted a football scholarship to the University of Detroit, played varsity baseball and graduated in 1961. Thomas served in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Thomas was a member of MENSA, and from 1961 to 1966 he worked for IBM. Thomas had a strong entrepreneurial spirit and in 1966 started his own company, Systems Associates Inc. The company developed the first banking and trust systems for 400 of the top 600 banks in the U.S., with offices in Reading, New York, Chicago and Washington D.C.. Thomas was a pioneer in developing the first talking bank program called Audio Response, and he developed the first credit card processing system for Bank of America. He later sold this company to a company in Silicon Valley, CA. In 1971 Thomas founded Systems II Corp. and continued developing computer software for the banking, manufacturing, medical, and transportation industries. Thomas also taught computer courses at Penn State Schuylkill and Alvernia College. Recently Tom spoke for the Science & Energy Club (NEPA) program, introducing middle school children to engineering careers and the power of entrepreneurship. In addition to loving the outdoors and being an avid hunter, fisherman, and golfer, he lived for his wife, children and grandchildren. He volunteered countless hours at the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts. Thomas was an intense sports fan and enjoyed following the sporting activities of his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John V. Coyle, Jr. and a grandson Zachary Thomas Coyle, who passed in 2002. Surviving to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 52 years, Sandra Lee (Clayton) Coyle; a loving daughter, Caroline E. Coyle, San Diego, CA; two loving sons, Timothy C. and his wife Catherine, Pottsville, Michael T. and his wife Christine, Bethesda, MD; six grandchildren, Ryan, Patrick, Caitlin, Aidan, Elizabeth two brothers, Msgr. Edward Coyle, Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Bally, PA and Gerald Coyle, Girardville, PA; sister in law, Elizabeth 'Betty' Coyle; two nephews, Michael and John Coyle; and his God Mother, Eileen Moeller and many beloved cousins. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 13, at 10:00AM in St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, with his brother, Msgr. Edward Coyle, Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Bally, PA, officiating assisted by, Sandra's Pastor, Reverend Bradley Shutt, of the First United Methodist Church, Pottsville. Viewing will be held Tuesday evening at the Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, 6 & W. Market Streets, Pottsville, from 6:00 to 9:00PM Memorial contributions can be made in to the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts, 1440 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA 17901