Paserba

PENN TWP — Butler businessman Tom Paserba, who founded International Quality Consultants, died Sunday following a brief illness. He was 61.

His business, which is far-reaching internationally but headquartered in Butler, does quality assurance and control services on equipment in the transportation and power plant industries.

“He had world-class skill, taking him to five continents,” said his older brother Bob Paserba, who is secretary for Catholic Education at the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

He will not only be remembered for his professional skills, but his personal qualities, too, his brother said. Throughout the years, he had “a heart of gold” and a great sense of humor.

“He and I were the best of friends growing up,” Bob Paserba said, despite the brothers being 11 years apart in age.

He taught his younger brother how to play golf, and they frequently played baseball as children.

“Those are the fondest memories I have of him,” he said.

Tom Paserba and his wife, Gail, always were together at community social events. Butler County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton said they seemed to be everywhere.

“You name it, if it was a fundraiser for any of our nonprofits,” such as Butler Memorial Hospital, Lifesteps, and the United Way of Butler County, “the Paserbas were always there to support the organization,” Pinkerton said.

For Tom Paserba, it was always people that mattered most, whether it was professionally or personally.

“He was always willing to help anybody that could use help,” said longtime friend Ken Bronder, co-founder of Bronder Technical Services. “He enjoyed being around his family. He worked with his family, and his family worked with him.”

His two sons, Tom and Josh, are with the company.

Bronder and Paserba, with their wives, each bought a house in Florida at the same complex to spend even more time with one another. And as of a few weeks ago, Paserba was still working at the business he founded.

“I worked with Tom for 38 years,” said Ernie Yockey, vice president at International Quality Consultants. “He was always concerned with customers and satisfying their needs, and was available 24/7.”

The 1970 Butler High School graduate was a track star, who also played football and basketball in high school. He was inducted into the Butler Hall of Fame in 2005, and still holds a few top track records at the high school, including the second fastest 1600-meter relay time in the county.

While at Slippery Rock University, he played on the 1972 state championship football team.

He continued practicing his athletic ability as an adult through coaching. He coached midget league football, pony league baseball and ice hockey at Butler High School.

His community memberships included the William H. Miller Masonic Lodge 769 in Butler, the Syria Shriners and the Royal Order of Jesters, Pittsburgh Court 2.

Also, a scholarship fund for high school seniors in track will be established in Paserba's memory. Donations can be sent to Lori A. Marinelli, vice president, Commercial Enterprise Banking Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, 525 William Penn Place, 153-2640, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Make checks payable to Citizens Bank.

Geibel Funeral Home in Butler his handing his funeral arrangements.