Thomas Robinson Cantine

1907 - 2008

Thomas Robinson Cantine, born September 22, 1907, in East Orange, N.J., died on September 6, 2008 at the age of 100. Tom spent his youth and early adult life in Portland, Oregon where he met his wife, Sigrid Riddell, his greatest love and light of his life for 71 years. He graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Civil Engineering and was an accomplished long distance runner, lettering at OSU in track and competing in the Olympic Trials. He was a natural athlete skilled in tennis, golf, canoeing, and fly-fishing. His very successful career in civil engineering pursuits spanned over 40 years. His career took his family to South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Texas and finally Alaska. The capstone of his career came in June of 1973 when he was awarded the U.S. Department of Interior Distinguished Service Award by the Secretary of the Interior for his work on the Alaskan Rampart Dam project. Upon retirement in 1975, he and Sigrid moved from Juneau to Morro Bay, CA, where he designed and built their beautiful home overlooking the bay and Pacific Ocean. He most recently resided at The Canterbury retirement home in Rancho Palos Verdes. Tom is survived by his three sons, Scott, Bob and Dick; grandchildren, Todd, Holly, Erin, Molly and Tom; and his nine great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be conducted at Los Osos Memorial Cemetery on Friday, September 19, 2008. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Sweeney, Southwestern Diabetic Foundation, P.O. Box 918, Gainesville, TX 76241. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.