In this post, TRU honors a recently departed community leader and member of our ‘transit family’.
Thomas Zerafa 1951-2023
Brother Thomas R. Zerafa died on February 13, 2023 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. “Brother Tom”, who studied music at Marygrove College and served as a music minister for Catholic parishes in Detroit, took his religious vows as a Franciscan friar in 2018. Tom dedicated himself to causes like human rights, LGBT rights, environmentalism, and advancing public transit in Detroit. He was active with TRU and Motor City Freedom Riders, and devoted a great amount of his time to TRU’s 2022 SMART millage campaign in Oakland County.
In a Facebook post, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter called Zerafa “a kind and dedicated soul passionate about his faith, his community and his politics. His backyard BBQs in Oak Park were welcome events where he helped connect his myriad of friends, and he will be dearly missed.” Coulter later added, “[Zerafa’s] commitment to social justice, especially for the LGBTQ community, but also on a host of other issues, was in his DNA.”
Tom was a source of inspiration, knowledge, and encouragement for TRU’s staff and volunteers. We will miss him, and remember his contributions to a cause he identified as central to Detroiters’ human dignity.
Find a full obituary & memorial service details here.
