Col. Thomas J. Tredici – formerly of Monessen

Col. Thomas J. Tredici will be remembered for his military service, monumental professional contributions and sustained dedication to public service to the citizens of the United States. As a military medical officer and scientist, he is regarded as one of the most influential ophthalmologists in aerospace medicine of our time. His greatest legacy in aerospace medicine is the thousands of physicians, staff and aircraft personnel he taught, trained, mentored and befriended throughout his 70-year military career. He was a founding commissioner for the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology, the USAF representative on the National Research Council and a committee member for NATO-AGARD (Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development). Col. Thomas J. Tredici was born to Marino Tredici and Maria Pizzanelli on Aug. 27, 1922, in Monessen. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942 at age 19 and was selected for pilot training. He piloted a B-17 Superfortress Bomber and its crew of 10 for the 8th Army Air Force (457th BG 8th AF) out of Gatton, England, in support of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II. After World War II, Thomas Tredici received his college degree, magna cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa) from Washington & Jefferson College in 1949. He received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1952 and then returned to active duty to serve in the Korea Conflict as a USAF medical officer (1952-53). He then completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh in 1956, followed by active duty at Scott AFB, Ill., and Clark AFB, Philippines, as chief of ophthalmology. After a fellowship in ophthalmic pathology (1962-64) at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he was assigned to the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio, Texas, as a staff ophthalmologist and researcher. He additionally received training as a flight surgeon. In 1965, he served as an eye surgeon in the Vietnam War (1965-66). Upon his return from the Vietnam War, he became chief of the Aerospace Ophthalmology Branch at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas, from 1966-87. In 1987, Col. Tredici retired at age 65 from the military after two recalls to active duty by the secretary of the Air Force, with 39 years of active military service. At the time of his retirement, Col. Tredici had the distinction of being the last USAF pilot still on active duty to have flown during World War II. Following his retirement, Col. Tredici continued his work as a senior scientist, principal lecturer and clinical function chief of the Aerospace Ophthalmology Branch at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine while in the Civil Service until 2011, having served the USAF for 70 years. He continued his position as clinical professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He continued working as a USAF emeritus scientist and consultant until his passing on April 28, 2021. His understanding of Air Force operations provided a firm foundation for his career as an aerospace ophthalmologist and allowed him to apply ophthalmic science to military needs. Dr. Tredici’s curriculum vitae listed hundreds of published research papers and 286 different presentations among his contributions to the Ophthalmology Branch of the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine in Vision Science and National Defense. During his tenure as chief, he and his staff were responsible for many breakthroughs in vision science. Research with NASA led to the development of the gold visor face shield worn by American astronauts to protect against ultraviolet/infrared light-induced eye injury. The development of the first laser laboratory in the Department of Defense, an electrophysiologic laboratory, the military’s first night vision laboratory and a windscreen evaluation laboratory were all established under his watch. Col. Tredici was the principle lecturer in ophthalmology for training the USAF flight surgeons, residents in Aerospace Medicine and the Allied Medical Officers in Ophthalmology. As a clinician and research scientist, he was instrumental in establishing an eye consultation service that identified vision standards and policies, assisting in the return of hundreds of air crew back to active duty. These standards included glaucoma management, refractive surgery, contact lens use and intraocular lenses in aviators. Col. Tredici has been honored with 17 military awards and decorations, including the Theodore C. Lyster Award from the Aerospace Medical Association, the Louis H. Bauer Founders Award, the Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Honor Award, the AMSUS (Association of Military Surgeons of the United States) Lifetime Achievement Award and the Legion of Merit. Col. Tredici was also a loving family man. He was married on Dec. 26, 1949, to Margaret DeSantis of Monessen, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his three children, Dr. Tomas Tredici (Carol), Mia Nieman (Paul) and Dr. Lucia Tredici (Jim); his grandchildren, John (Jessica), Peter, Andrew, Lindsay (Jonathan) and Laura Rose (Joseph); great-grandchildren, Sydney and Jack; his sister-in-law, Donna Hahne (Robert) of Monessen; and many nieces and nephews, including Robert Hahne and children, Elizabeth and Ilse, Kelly Hahne (Amy) and children Julia and Thomas, Serafina Lobenz and children Haley and Samantha, Maria Smith (Tom) and children Nina and Kelly, and Julia Amato (Victor). He had many hobbies that he pursued, such as his love of vintage cars, fixing old homes, following Astros baseball and meeting up with friends. He was a master storyteller and had a great sense of humor. Most of all, he was a patriot and loved America. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to one of his favorite charities: Dr. Thomas J. Tredici, M.D., Endowment for Ophthalmology Resident Education at the University of Texas HSC at San Antonio, https://makelivesbetter.uthscsa.edu/tredici. (Checks can be mailed to Steven Reese, Office of Institutional Advancement, MC – 7835, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229 (210-567-2598). Donations can also be sent to the Aerospace Medical Association Thomas J. and Margaret Tredici Award; please make checks out to AsMA Foundation and mail them to Ms. Genie Bopp, treasurer, 16002 Edgewood Drive, Houston, TX 77059, (713-594-3163); or The Daedalians Scholarship Fund, Flight No. 2, Stinson’s Flight, P.O. Box No. 151, JBSA, Randolph, Texas, 78148 (Attn: Col. Bill Ercoline). Please refer online at SUNSET MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME website or call 210-828-3766 for update on date/time for Mass and internment with full military honors in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. The interment will be livestreamed as well.