Tribute

A tribute to Tom can be summarized as Life In The Fast Lane. But unlike the Eagles song, Tom's life was fast cars, fast bikes, and fast dogs. Including (so many, I am no doubt forgetting some): fast Mustang, Camaro, Firebird Trans Am, GTO, Datsun 280ZX Turbo, Challenger Hellcat (900 hp? No dear, it's a Demon); fast drag bike, Honda CBX, Suzuki Hayabusa; and fast dogs--Tom got so much satisfaction fostering retired racing greyhounds, and adopting several over the years. +💙+ Tom's long career as a PCB designer covered from Bell Labs to Qualcomm and everything in between, making many friends along the way, and receiving well-earned recognition and awards including a memorable trip to Hayman Island on the Great Barrier Reef with his brother (his wife stayed home to have a baby instead). Another highlight was working on the Black Diamond Switchback PC that Orange County Choppers incorporated into one of their custom bikes (yep, fast bikes). Even the commute to San Diego wasn't so bad since he was able to carpool with Jeff and rent a room and a cat from Kathie. +💙+ In all his hobbies, Tom tended to go overboard (he didn't get the nickname Mr Overkill for nothing): photography, sound system and home theater, computers, remodeling, and of course he couldn't leave the muscle cars alone ("more horsepower!"). And going overboard with SO MANY pets over the years too--cats (from Tirebiter to Pippin), dogs (from Princess to Raj), birds, and all kinds of reptiles. He loved all animals, and the photo above was one of his favorites (hey, he liked slow things too). Tom volunteered with the Arizona Herpetological Association for many years, relocating and rehoming snakes and lizards from people's homes and yards, until a rattlesnake bite convinced him to find another animal volunteering opportunity: fast dogs, naturally. He enjoyed going to meet-and-greets and gatherings and talking to people about greyhounds, but mostly he enjoyed the dogs, helping them transition from racing athletes to pampered pets (oh you know he spoiled them so much). +💙+

Friends & Family

Survived by immediate family: wife of 40 years Rita, daughter Michelle, and brother Jim; plus extended family and friends including some who still kept in touch even after scattering across the country decades ago to Arizona, Arkansas, California, and South Dakota. As Tom always said: Illinois, it's a great place to be FROM, lol.