Thomas M. “Tom” Zukovich, 75, of Schnecksville, died Oct. 4, 2021, in St. Luke’s Hospital, Miner’s Campus, Coaldale.

He and his wife, Chris Z. Waschow, were married 36 years.

Born Sept. 29, 1946, in Hazleton, he was the son of the late Peter and Anna (Tomashosky) Zukovich.

He attended Quakake Grade School and graduated in 1964 from Mahanoy Area High School and Bloomsburg University in 1969.

He was a globally recognized explosives chemist whose accomplishments included developing the process and equipment design engineering resulting in 61 explosives manufacturing and packaging plants in the United States, Europe, Asia, Mexico and South America.

Uncompromising in his stand on explosive safety, he was a sought-after chemist for Trojan Explosives, Atlas Powder, ICI Explosives and Orica.

In 1999, he formed Zukovich, Morhard & Wade LLC which completed hundreds of projects until its sale in 2011.

The founder of ExploTrack Inc. and the CTO, he is credited with developing the first RFID based real-time tracking system for explosives and advanced the technology.

He was a member of Trout Unlimited and St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church, Orefield.

In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by brothers Paul Zukovich and his wife, Deborah, Jackie Zukovich and his wife, Annette, and Martin Zukovich and his wife, Debra, all of Tamaqua; four nieces and a nephew, many cousins; and a multitude of caring friends.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at heintzelmancares.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph the Worker Angel Fund and/or Leukemia Research Foundation, both c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville PA 18078-0196.

Arrangements were made by Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville.