Surrounded by his loved ones, Thomas Edward Lawnsby culminated his great life adventure on October 18, 2017 in Georgetown, Texas at the age of 70. His unique humor and philosophical insights, his compassion and understanding, and his generosity and vivacious spirit are treasured forever in the hearts of his surviving family and friends. The legacy of Tom Lawnsby is impossible to quantify because he constantly and gently touching the lives of every person he met with wit, charm, and simple yet profound life wisdom. His last teaching is our guiding light: “It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about us.”

Tom is survived by his wife Necya Lawnsby; children, Kerri Lawnsby Sami, Thomas Kent Lawnsby and Jed Andrew Lawnsby; siblings, Rob Lawnsby, Jody Pascarella and Jayme Lawnsby; grandchildren, Garrett Thomas Comey, Tanner Edward Comey, and Thomas Keegan Lawnsby. He is preceded in death by his father Lawrence Edward Lawnsby, mother Rosemary Michaelis Lawnsby, and son Derek Jaymes Lawnsby.

Born on November 9, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York to Lawrence and Rosemary Lawnsby, Tom learned to embrace change as the military moved his family to bases in New York, Hawaii, California, Rhode Island, and Maine. He graduated from high school in New Caanan, Connecticut in 1965, and served in the Air Force which deployed him to the Azores to maintain autopilot systems for military aircraft. In 1968 he married Elizabeth Louise Kubec, welcoming Derek, Kent and Jed into the world. Shortly after divorcing his first wife he met Necya Hanks Gilbert and her daughter Kerri at a divorce party (1976); he was being silly talking on a corded telephone that wasn’t plugged in, they fell madly in love, and spent the next 42 years communicating very well with each other.

Tom’s intellect, innovation, and intuition opened many doors in the technology industry for several decades, from Pitney Bowes Alpex in Connecticut, to Digital Equipment Corporation in Massachusetts and finally Dell Computer Corporation in Austin, Texas.  He loved managing complex engineering and manufacturing processes, teaching others to discover the answers for themselves, and helping people to come together to resolve issues for the benefit of everyone. He retired in 1999, jumping into a variety of hobbies and travels that fed his inquisitive mind and adventurous spirit.

Tom’s children remember him as a wise loving father who encouraged them to pursue their goals, helped them to forgive the mistakes, and taught them powerful wisdom for navigating life on their own terms. “You do the best you can with the tools you have at the time.” Tom’s siblings remember him as the big brother who always went the extra mile for family. He was a generous individual who loved his family, his dogs, outdoors, sailing, tinkering, advising, theorizing, driving a tractor and contemplating the meaning of life. Tom was passionate about helping others, teaching life skills, enjoying the solitude of a sunset, spending time with his children and grandchildren, and loving his wife Necya.

He was an active and dedicated member of the Mensa organization and the Porsche Club of America. He loved attending ballets and symphonies in Austin, volunteering for the YMCA in Round Rock, serving as the executive director of Mozart Fest in Austin, and collecting model trains, planes and automobiles. 

A memorial gathering is scheduled for Saturday November 11 from 11am to 2pm at Booty Road Park in Georgetown, Texas. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tom’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the National Down Syndrome Society in honor of his son Derek (http://www.ndss.org/Ways-to-Give/) or Austin Pets Alive in honor Tom’s love of dogs (www.austinpetsalive.com). Remembrances can be shared at https://www.forevermissed.com/thomas-edward-lawnsby . The family would like to thank the staff at St. David’s Hospital in Georgetown, Texas for their care and dedication, helping Tom pass from this world peacefully and begin his new chapter across the cosmos.