Tom was born in Ellsworth, Kansas ... second child of four. 

Tom graduated from Mission Bay High School in 1971 and in 1974 he married his high school sweetheart, Laurie Pennington.  In 1979 they became the proud parents of a baby girl, Leilani.

Career wise, Tom was a fry cook, sous chef and finally a software system engineer (programmer).  He loved the outdoors, and gardening.

While Tom wasn't much for talking, when he did say something, you always knew it had value.