Thomas Capel Tomich

Thomas Capel Tomich died peacefully at home on July 15, 2018, at the age of 93. He and his beloved wife Lillian had just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. He was proud that he did not spend a single day of his long life in a hospital. Born at the family home, he was raised on the family farm in Orangevale, California during the Great Depression. Though no stranger to hard work and hard times, nothing could have prepared a 19-year-old for service as a combat infantryman in the U.S. Army during WWII. Tom was proud of his service in France, Germany, and Austria and as a liberator of Nazi death camps. His stories serve as a reminder of society's frailty, humanity's resilience, and our responsibilities as citizens in a free society. We trust that he is at peace and finally free from the trauma of WWII. Tom was THE master fruit grower; he approached farming as an art and craft as well as a science, producing the best fruit that most people ever tasted. He obtained his Bachelor's in Plant Science and Master's in Horticulture from UC Davis, where he also met lovely Lillian at Picnic Day. They married and together joined in his family's Orangevale farming tradition. Their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, and generations of local youth participated in the family farm effort, an Orangevale legacy. Tom was proud of the scores of youth who worked with him through the decades and saw his mentoring as a community service. He happily shared his skills with so many, though none of us attained his mastery. He also was passionate about many other things: nature, history, politics, community, citizenship. His spiritual life was deeply rooted, and he was eager to worship every Sunday at his parish church. Tom is preceded by his parents, Prosper Tomich and Eleanor Wickstrom Tomich; and his brothers and sisters, Nicholas, Frances, Eleanor, John, Quentin, and Frederick. Tom is survived by Lillian; their children, Thomas Patrick, Victoria, Elizabeth, and Patricia; and their grandchildren, Alannah, Erin, Erik, and Eden. His grandchildren are the fifth generation to have worked on the Orangevale farm, founded by his grandparents Albert and Hannah Wickstom in 1897. Tom's passing marks the end of an era. Tom was laid to rest with military honors at Sylvan Cemetery in Citrus Heights. A memorial mass and reception will take place at Divine Savior Catholic Church in Orangevale on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, Lillian encourages donations to Divine Savior Catholic Church, Loaves & Fishes Sacramento, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, or San Juan High School Alumni Association.