Thomas C. Hickman

1956 - 2022

Thomas Christopher Hickman, 65, was called home on November 22, 2022, surrounded by the love of his four children, their significant others and the friendship and caring of the mother of his children. Tom fought valiantly against PDAC to gain one more day, one more laugh, one more experience, one more connection with each of his children, grandchildren and friends. He was awed and humbled by the show of love by so many friends who not only visited but helped the family through the roughest of times and were there to his last day. He wished he had been able to see and visit just one more time with all his Darden friends, Naval Academy buddies, project partners, Building Goodness Foundation volunteers, and so many others. But while time was growing short, please know he thought of all of you, and often. Tom's gregarious nature knew no bounds. Not only did he know your name, but he also knew your story and made you part of his family. There was not a friend, family member or acquaintance who did not know Tom for his creativity, vision, whimsy, laughter, fun and friendship. In a moment of fun, his best friend gave him business cards that say it all…

"Thomas C. Hickman since 1956"

Tom moved to Charlottesville in the early 1980s to work with his uncle in real estate and subsequently to open his own real estate development company. He was anything but conventional and his creative genius and tenacity transformed many parts of the Charlottesville you see every day. He was an early proponent and contributor to the Downtown Mall and his trademark projects can be found all around Charlottesville, including Robinson Woods, Madison Place, Huntley, King Lumber, South Street Inn, the Wells Fargo Building (the old train station), and Main and Tenth, among others. He was passionate about providing affordable housing for first responders and teachers to live in the city, and thought co-housing communities could solve many of the issues surrounding the high costs. Tom also gave back by using his entrepreneurial skills and experience to mentor others both in business and through the Startup Weekends program.

Tom was born December 9, 1956, in Lansdale, PA to Thomas Wolstenholme Hickman and Patricia Periolat. He is survived by his mother, his children Tripper (Genny), Kelsey Hickman (John Scott), Morgan and Chris, his grandchildren Oliver and Wyatt, and the mother of his children, Lisa Butler (Paul), as well as his brother Henry (Cindy), sisters Keller Shinholser (Steve) and Letitia Green (Mark), and 3 Periolat step-sisters Susan, Joann and Barbara. He will be missed by his many adoring nieces and nephews: Emily, Amy, Amanda, Logan, Colby, TJ, Kelvin, and Meagan, as well as his uncles Charles (Alicia), Corky, and Hector and his aunts Sunny (Len), Alexa, Anne (John), Ethel, and Nan.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Henry and Helen Ruth, and Alfred "Bus" Hickman and Marjorie Bunting Harlan, his father Cmdr. Thomas W. Hickman, his sister-in-law Sarah, his niece Azlee Hickman and his stepfather John Periolat.

If you missed Tom at Maya, or did not get to take a last sailing trip with him, or to be with him building houses in Nicaragua or Haiti, or run off to ski with him, just think of him next time you are doing those things and he will be looking on smiling.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Building Goodness Foundation, who made Tom's life's work of building affordable housing that much more meaningful, and who came and transformed his home in his last months to provide a measure of independence.

There is a private service for close family with a special thank you to the Rev. Will Peyton, Rector of St. Paul's Memorial Church. A Celebration of Life is in planning for after the holidays. Please look for a private announcement through your FB connections to Tom and his family and friends in the coming weeks.