Thomas Michael Speedy
1960 - 2025
Thomas Michael Speedy, 65, of Daytona Beach, FL, passed away on December 27th, 2025, after a short, brutal battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was a deeply beloved father, brother, son, uncle, cousin, and friend. His warm generosity, sense of humor, big laugh, and appreciation for the little things in life will be sorely missed.
Tom was born to Charles and Arlene Speedy on October 8th, 1960, in Rochester, NY; their third boy in just 5 years. As a child, Tom enjoyed the many splendors of 1960s West Irondequoit, playing outside until the porch lights came on and helping out with the family business, Speedy Cleaners. On the weekends the whole family would pack up for dinner at Grandma Speedy’s, the table laden with Macedonian staples like olives and feta—which Tommy had a healthy childlike distrust of and avoided at all costs. He always remembered those long, family-filled, supervision-free days fondly, often saying: “it was Camelot.”
Camelot as the Speedy family knew it ended when their patriarch, Charles, tragically died of brain cancer in 1976. Tom was just 15. The family moved to Pittsford where he found support and joy in a new group of friends, with whom he’d remain close for the rest of his life. As a senior at Pittsford Sutherland High School, he auditioned for Bye Bye Birdie to impress a girl-- and ended up winning the lead role of Conrad Birdie, shocking his classmates and family. He had never publicly acted, sang, or even shown a remote interest in musical theater. Legend has it he was so transformed that the drama teacher actually added 2 Elvis songs to the show.
Freed from the shackles of high school in 1978, Tom was able to dedicate himself full-time to the family business, and equally full-time to hitting Park Avenue with his brothers. (He fit some college classes in there too, but years later they didn’t come up much.) For a mostly happy period of the late 70s and 80s, the Speedy brothers lived, worked, and played together like a pack of dogs. They opened and closed more businesses, bought and crashed more cars, and yes, folded more laundry than most people do in a lifetime— all before they turned 30.
After 29 Rochester winters, he said “enough!” and migrated to sunny Fort Lauderdale in 1990 to start a new career in sales. Over the next 30-some years, he sold everything: boats, cars, jet skis, real estate, golf carts, mobility scooters, carpet, tile, bathrooms, and even some things he probably wouldn’t want mentioned (ok fine, there was a brief stint selling funerals, which he hated). His work took him all over the coastal highways and marshy backroads of Florida and once, Costa Rica, where he was totally charmed by the lemurs and endless bowls of fruit.
In Florida, he found a wonderful community wherever he went: neighbors, bartenders, and local beach bums alike all became part of his large network of friends. He couldn’t walk 10 feet on Deerfield Beach without running into someone he knew and his olive skin became deeply tanned by all the time he spent chatting in the sun.
In 1993, Tom married Christine Schantz of Rochester, NY at Oak Hill Country Club. Never the traditional couple, the bride had a broken foot and the groom forgot the marriage license in Geneva. Tom and Christine settled down in burgeoning Lighthouse Point, and in 1995 welcomed a daughter, Samantha Catherine Speedy. 18 months later in 1996, Mark Charles Speedy joined the family.
Tom was a man of many hobbies and passions, and over the years dove deep into DIY renovation, interior design, and politics-- but he had a lifelong love affair with TV and movies. As a kid he would get so sucked into the tube he earned the nickname “Deadwood”. Even in his later years, Tom was known for watching any and everything. Some of his favorites from his last months showcased that range: Landman, Predator: Badlands, Bugonia, and K-Pop Demon Hunters (“it was cute!”).
He is survived by his daughter Sam (Brooklyn, NY) and son Mark (Troy, NY); his siblings Chuck (Tracy), Jim (Gina), and Sandy (Kenny); nieces and nephews Jimmy, Matt (Sarah), Jake (Brianna), Arley, Baylee, and Chloe; and great nieces and nephews Lydia, Sarah, Rosaria, and Antonino; the McMahons, Speedy, and Jackson families, as well as countless friends.
A celebration of life will be held this summer in Rochester, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Abandoned Pet Rescue Fort Lauderdale, a cause close to Dad’s heart. The family would especially like to thank his exceptional medical team at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Tom was born to Charles and Arlene Speedy on October 8th, 1960, in Rochester, NY; their third boy in just 5 years. As a child, Tom enjoyed the many splendors of 1960s West Irondequoit, playing outside until the porch lights came on and helping out with the family business, Speedy Cleaners. On the weekends the whole family would pack up for dinner at Grandma Speedy’s, the table laden with Macedonian staples like olives and feta—which Tommy had a healthy childlike distrust of and avoided at all costs. He always remembered those long, family-filled, supervision-free days fondly, often saying: “it was Camelot.”
Camelot as the Speedy family knew it ended when their patriarch, Charles, tragically died of brain cancer in 1976. Tom was just 15. The family moved to Pittsford where he found support and joy in a new group of friends, with whom he’d remain close for the rest of his life. As a senior at Pittsford Sutherland High School, he auditioned for Bye Bye Birdie to impress a girl-- and ended up winning the lead role of Conrad Birdie, shocking his classmates and family. He had never publicly acted, sang, or even shown a remote interest in musical theater. Legend has it he was so transformed that the drama teacher actually added 2 Elvis songs to the show.
Freed from the shackles of high school in 1978, Tom was able to dedicate himself full-time to the family business, and equally full-time to hitting Park Avenue with his brothers. (He fit some college classes in there too, but years later they didn’t come up much.) For a mostly happy period of the late 70s and 80s, the Speedy brothers lived, worked, and played together like a pack of dogs. They opened and closed more businesses, bought and crashed more cars, and yes, folded more laundry than most people do in a lifetime— all before they turned 30.
After 29 Rochester winters, he said “enough!” and migrated to sunny Fort Lauderdale in 1990 to start a new career in sales. Over the next 30-some years, he sold everything: boats, cars, jet skis, real estate, golf carts, mobility scooters, carpet, tile, bathrooms, and even some things he probably wouldn’t want mentioned (ok fine, there was a brief stint selling funerals, which he hated). His work took him all over the coastal highways and marshy backroads of Florida and once, Costa Rica, where he was totally charmed by the lemurs and endless bowls of fruit.
In Florida, he found a wonderful community wherever he went: neighbors, bartenders, and local beach bums alike all became part of his large network of friends. He couldn’t walk 10 feet on Deerfield Beach without running into someone he knew and his olive skin became deeply tanned by all the time he spent chatting in the sun.
In 1993, Tom married Christine Schantz of Rochester, NY at Oak Hill Country Club. Never the traditional couple, the bride had a broken foot and the groom forgot the marriage license in Geneva. Tom and Christine settled down in burgeoning Lighthouse Point, and in 1995 welcomed a daughter, Samantha Catherine Speedy. 18 months later in 1996, Mark Charles Speedy joined the family.
Tom was a man of many hobbies and passions, and over the years dove deep into DIY renovation, interior design, and politics-- but he had a lifelong love affair with TV and movies. As a kid he would get so sucked into the tube he earned the nickname “Deadwood”. Even in his later years, Tom was known for watching any and everything. Some of his favorites from his last months showcased that range: Landman, Predator: Badlands, Bugonia, and K-Pop Demon Hunters (“it was cute!”).
He is survived by his daughter Sam (Brooklyn, NY) and son Mark (Troy, NY); his siblings Chuck (Tracy), Jim (Gina), and Sandy (Kenny); nieces and nephews Jimmy, Matt (Sarah), Jake (Brianna), Arley, Baylee, and Chloe; and great nieces and nephews Lydia, Sarah, Rosaria, and Antonino; the McMahons, Speedy, and Jackson families, as well as countless friends.
A celebration of life will be held this summer in Rochester, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Abandoned Pet Rescue Fort Lauderdale, a cause close to Dad’s heart. The family would especially like to thank his exceptional medical team at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
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