Frank Thomas (Tom) Fickel died on February 25th at the home of a friend in Athens, Ohio. He was born on January 11, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio.

He graduated OU in 1965 with a special education degree. Making his home in Athens after traveling with friends in Europe, Tom taught in Marietta schools until he moved to a new home in St. Croix USVI in 1980.

He was an accomplished photographer and taught special education for 28 years. He captained countless sailing adventures in the Caribbean and graciously opened his home on the sea to his ever-widening circle of friends. He traversed the globe always coming home to St. Croix and Athens, sharing gifts and photos from many different cultures he encountered in his travels. His life's journey created uncountable colorful tales, wonderful photos, and the beautiful legacy of an ever-widening spiral of dear lifelong friends.

From his OU days and while following his interest in photography, he met a circle of Athenians who became dear, lifelong friends. In 1980 Tom found his third home, Frederiksted, St Croix U.S.V.I. he was a special Education Science teacher at St Croix Central High School for 28 years. His connection and care for his students spilled over to helping them gain life skills and find job opportunities. He was a mentor to several generations of young people in St Croix. Classroom relationships became true friendships.

Besides teaching, Tom wore other hats. At one point he and a friend were magnificent, magnanimous landlords of one of the most drop-dead gorgeous places on Earth. It was a former 1950's hotel with a clover shaped saltwater pool and 1700's Greathouse situated on a sequestered hill with a 260-degree view of the Caribbean to the West and a rain forest mountain to the East. Historically it had many names, Ham's Bluff, Clover Crest, Rebecca's Pride, but it garnered the name The Last Resort in honor of the motley crew of renters who resided there.

Another hat Tom wore was that of Sea Captain. Tom was smitten by the Caribbean Sea and not only dearly loved diving its depths shallow and deep but encountered many a briny adventure sailing that ocean blue! With friends as crew Captain Tom weathered demasting, losing anchors, wind ripped mainsails, broken steering cables, sea anchor dinghies, empty gas tanks and consistent running aground on the sandbar in Salt River just to mention a few of his adventures on the high seas. Why did we repeatedly trust him with our lives? Perhaps it was experiencing deep water crossings to St Thomas, tacking the Sir Francis Drake Channel on a good wind, New Year's Eve at Foxy's, salt encrusted sunset toasts after a days sail. Or maybe it was somehow, the Captain always returned us safely to harbor.

Tom, with the help of friends built a beautiful, canary yellow house on the western shore of the sparkling blue Caribbean Sea. It's been the scene of countless parties, celebrations and feasts, the staging ground for decades of Three Kings Day parades, the West End's Best Green Flash Sunset vantage point, home to many beloved pets, and a serene refuge from a too-busy planet. Tom's back porch is world renowned for fun and generous hospitality.

Wanderlust and great curiosity led Tom to become an intrepid world traveler. His path led him to visit all seven continents! Surprisingly, for someone who was always wanting to be warm Antarctica was by far his favorite! He spent months at a time traveling, getting to know, not just to visit, a place. He tented along the Silk Road traveling in a massive Russian military truck! He fell in love with an Irish GPS voice on the Emerald Isle! He walked with penguins on glaciers! Tom always involved his friends in his planning, in the postcards he sent and gifts he gave, sometimes as travel partners, and through his wonderful photos that captured the essence of all the beautiful and far-away places he saw. We all got to travel with him.

From his homemade Christmas cards to his open and generous hospitality, Tom valued his many friends from all over the globe. He leaves a legacy of friendship in great stories of adventures momentous and mundane. Tom's life had a ripple effect on creating close friends he gathered along the way.

Friends are encouraged to share a memory of Tom, send a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.