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Thomas Martin Sestak
Thomas Martin Sestak
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Thomas Sestak Obituary
Tom was born and raised in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and graduated from Baldwin High School, where he was a star football player. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, eventually completing his MBA at Wharton School of Business. Tom served in the US Army and later worked in New York and Chicago in financial services before moving to San Francisco to pursue business ventures including owning and operating the Standard Construction Company. It was in San Francisco he met his wife, Toni, to whom he was married for forty-six years and together they raised their family. Tom and Toni loved to travel and visited many countries together. Tom was a connoisseur of wines and fine food and was an excellent cook. Tom and Toni hosted many outstanding dinners and parties for family and friends. He was an avid San Francisco Forty-Niners fan and former season ticket holder.
Tom died peacefully surrounded by family and will live on through our memories.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Stephen Holcomb
September 8, 2023
Tom and I met my freshman year at The University of Pennsylvania. He had come back from overseas duty in Ethiopia and enrolled at Penn. We hung out together all the time that first year, For the next three years we were room mates and lived at 2121 Naudain street in Philadelphia. We worked together that Fall semester to redecorate our small three story town house and spent so much time doing so that our grades suffered mightily, but in the end it was truly our home and a place we were happy to be in. Those three years witnessed some wild times and lots of fun and laughs. When we graduated he went west to San Fransisco and I followed shortly thereafter looking for a job. I finally found something but in New York, and that ended our long association together, but not our friendship. Over the ensuing years we would visit each other in SF, or where I lived in NJ or NH. Each time it was an easy rekindling of our friendship, almost as if we saw each other constantly. Tom loved to tell stories and to laugh, and he appreciated good food and wine, and that made for some wonderful times together. I sorely miss him.
Steve Holcomb
Michael Holland
September 4, 2023
It was easy to love Tom. He had an almost boyish quality of immensely enjoying all of the activities that we were involved in together.
Years ago, we were all skiing up at Deer Valley. It was a beautiful, bluebird day. We got separated but all agreed to meet for lunch. Of course, Tom was the last one in. We were all sitting there, relaxed, enjoying our excellent meals, probably with a beer or a glass of wine, when Tom comes blowing in, cheeks rosy red and begins to tell us how many runs he skied that morning, some incredible number like 20, I´m not sure. I remember thinking that here´s a guy who might be a bit OCD but so what!
Another time at Alta/Snowbird, in the days when the 49´s and the Cowboys had an intense rivalry, we were all instructed by Tom to be at a meeting place NO LATER THAN 4 PM, so that we could dash back to the hotel in Salt Lake to see the kick--off. Of course, we all complied and tossed our gear into his rental Escalade and shot down the hill. Just as the game was about the start, Tom blurts out: "Where are my skis"? You can guess where they were. Sadly, he missed the first half of the game.....did I mention OCD earlier?
Tom loved family. At Barbara´s birthday party in the Castro, he reminisced with me about the how much he enjoyed all of the years getting together with all of the kids, especially times that included Laura and Sarah. With tears in his eyes, he asked if I thought that we could get everyone together again. I replied that I was certain that we could. Sadly, there wasn´t time to make that happen.
Tom was a good friend. He was especially thoughtful and supportive to John and Barbara during John´s bout with cancer. Those were difficult years and we are all very grateful for what he did.
Tom will be missed. He was very courageous to endure all of the discomfort that his back issues caused him. He kept going in spite of the pain and he was determined to lead an active, engaged life with his family and friends.
When I saw him last at a dinner party that he and Toni hosted, he was interested in discussing a fairly complex physics issue with me and Gary and I thought to myself, now he´s a guy who has a wide range of interests.
So long, Tom. You enriched the lives of everyone who knew you. Maybe we will meet again.
Deb Campbell
August 28, 2023
Deb Campbell
August 28, 2023
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Deb Campbell
August 28, 2023
Deb Campbell
August 28, 2023
My memories of Tom involve many, many kittens and many colorful stories at parties. What an amazing life. It was a pleasure to know him!
Tina Gonzalez
August 22, 2023
Tom was married to my sister and from the time Gary, my husband, and I moved to SF in 1976 til he passed, Tom was big in our lives. He and Toni opened their home to us then and always. So many family dinners and celebrations at 415- we will treasure the memories. Tom was always the best host- even if dinner was most often late! We miss you Tom- and family get togethers will never be the same!
Karen Huber
August 14, 2023
I met Tom in 1975 - he was the good-looking boyfriend of my classmate, Toni!
Tom immediately won me over by treating Toni and I to dinner at Vanessi's after a hard day at school.... their cannelloni has yet to be surpassed. Via Toni, I enjoyed nearly fifty more years of Tom's hospitality, gourmet adventures and colorful stories. He will be missed.
Steve Barton
August 8, 2023
Tom always reminded that we were friends. We enjoyed getting together on Friday afternoons to share a few beers from time to time. Tom and i would get together for steak dinners at Izzy's. Tom was one of the most interesting people I've ever know. He would captivate with the stories he would tell me. Tom was a mentor and my friend. We were planning to get together for dinner earlier this year, I'm am sadden we didn't have that last time out together. I'm going to miss him very much and especially his nutty sense of humor! Rest easy my friend! Steve
Mary Wood
August 8, 2023
Tom, my brother-in-law, welcomed me into the family with Toni and fine wine. Many memories of family dinners and Tom's curry or fresh pasta. Tom taught me to make the gravy for Thanksgiving turkey and he loved/hated everyone in the kitchen!
Max and Cheryl Batzer
August 6, 2023
Good times shared and well remembered; a life well lived. Drinking a fine Cab where ever he may be. We toast him with one tonight
Barbara Pletz
August 5, 2023
I have known Tom and Toni since we became next-door neighbors in 1980. We soon became "best friends" hopped over the short fence between our homes on an almost daily basis.
They moved when their family outgrew the small home. Since then over the next 40 years we have shared so many happy (and not so happy) times. We've traveled together extensively domestic and internationally.
My husband, John, sadly left us way too soon at 62 after a 5-year battle with brain cancer. During his illness Tom was a true friend. In the beginning of his illness John had significant personality changes and some physical limitations. Tom treated him like he always had as "a good buddy" and included him in a last trip to Hanalei with "the boys". As John's tumor progressed he was eventually bedridden and confused and at times very difficult to manage. Tom was a guardian angel to us. When we were in crisis I would call him and all hours and he would come immediately. He was wonderful and so patient with John he was always able to get John settled down. I am forever thankful for his love and support during that difficult time.
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