Thomas Karlick

Thomas Ryan Karlick, 40, of Allentown PA., passed into life in Glen Mills, PA., on January 27, 2023. He was the son of Thomas C. Karlick, Lisa Clare Shannon-Breslin, and Alan Shannon-Breslin. Thomas achieved the rank of Sergeant US Marine Corps (USMC), serving as a scout sniper with three combat tours with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.

Thomas had a bright and adventurous spirit that led him to explore athletics and dance in his youth and to acquire a lifelong love for writing and poetry.

While Thomas excelled as an employee and business owner in the home security business, his real passion was personal fitness and fitness training. After acquiring his Personal Trainer certification, he pursued that vocation full-time. He had a gift for inspiring and motivating people as a manager and owner with SoldierFit and then as the founder of his own fitness program and facility, FenixFit.

Thomas was an accomplished triathlete, marathoner and ultramarathoner. He competed in numerous events around the country most recently the Philadelphia Marathon in November 2022. His many accomplishments included finishing the 2015 Grand to Grand Ultra covering 171 miles over seven days from the north rim of the Grand Canyon to the Pink Cliffs of the Grand Staircase. In 2016 he won the "most hostile desert stage race in the world," the Trans Pecos Ultra, a six-day event spanning 163 miles in Texas. A documentary was made about his experience that can be found at The Other Side of Possible on Vimeo

Thomas helped innumerable people through his participation in 03XX Foundation, Battle Borne and Alcoholics Anonymous. No matter his personal struggles, he was always quick to reach out with a hand up.