Thomas Lawrence Brinston

Thomas Lawrence Brinston, age 96, of Ridgewood, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

Tom was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Chicago-born, Henry Brinston and Janina Pieprzmy Brinston, who was born and raised in Krakow, Poland and immigrated with her family via Ellis Island in 1903. Tom was the youngest of four children.

Tom attended and graduated from Lane Tech High School and was drafted in the United States Army in 1951 with the 811th Battalion of Combat Engineers where he was stationed in Yeongdeungpo and then with the 332nd Engineering Aviation Battalion (EABn) during the height of the Korean War near Pusan and Pohang-du, in South Korea. Honorably discharged with both Korean Service and United Nations Service Medals, he headed back to his hometown of Chicago, IL, where he opened his own butcher shop. Sunny Northern California beckoned him as his sibling's US Air Force family was stationed there and Tom's mother eventually settled there as well. Following suit, Tom sold off his butcher shop and headed west in 1970. He continued his time as a butcher for Safeway Inc. and retired after 27 years of dedicated service.

It is no surprise that Tom was a huge sports fan, for he played baseball in high school: both 2nd base and shortstop, to be exact. He loved the Chicago Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Bears, having attended a myriad of games in his lifetime. He was an avid antiquary and loved collecting antiques. Tom took pride in decorating the various spaces of his home. A devoted jazz aficionado, he frequented live jazz venues in his youth and listened to his favorite artists in the comfort of home. He also loved to tell "Back in Chicago" stories about his youth, his family, and the music scene of his heyday. He thoroughly enjoyed quality time well spent with his families in New Jersey, Connecticut, and California.

Tom met the love of his life, Maria, while on his daily walk at the City of Vallejo Waterfront in 1991. They both shared the love of walking, watching egrets, taking long drives, cooking at home, and dining out especially at Nation's, Zio Fraedo's, Benicia Grill and Sardine Can in Vallejo and Benicia, CA. In his later years, Tom followed Maria to live with their family in Ridgewood, NJ. He is survived by his cherished loved ones: Maria Bitagon, Jacqueline Leone, Terrance Leone, Ophelia Leone, Bianca Leone, Dinese Christopher and the family cat, Blue Star.

Memorial Services will take place at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 2:00-3:30 PM. It was Tom's wish to be cremated and his ashes scattered along the picturesque Carquinez Straits in Benicia, CA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations/contributions in Tom's memory may be made to the Center for Food Action, Life Opportunities Unlimited or Share Ridgewood. It would be greatly appreciated.