Thomas D. Deardorff

June 4, 1937 - January 5, 2026 Thomas D. Deardorff-beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and respected leader in California agriculture-died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on January 5, 2026, at age 88.
A native Californian, Tom was the son of Charlotte Benjamin and William Winston Deardorff. He attended Alhambra High School and Occidental College before graduating from UCLA in 1959, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
After serving in the United States Coast Guard, Tom joined the family farming business, Deardorff-Jackson Company, in 1961. Founded in 1937, the company operated across Southern California. Tom's sound judgment and integrity earned him leadership roles with organizations including the Western Growers Association, the California Commission on Agriculture, United Way, and The Swift Foundation. Among his many lifetime honors, the Western Growers Association Award of Honor in 2000 was particularly meaningful.
Above all, Tom cherished his wife of 63 years, Connie. They were married in 1962 and built a close-knit family with their three sons-Chris, Tod, and Tommy-and later their daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Family was the most important thing to Tom, a devotion he showed by attending nearly every youth, high school, and college sporting event in which his children and grandchildren competed. His unwavering support is a gift they will cherish for a lifetime.
Tom will be remembered for his kindness, loyalty, and unwavering devotion to family and friends.