Thomas Edward Placentia

THOMAS EDWARD "TOM" PLACENTIA, 56 of Portland, OR, formerly of Orange County, CA, died on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Tom was born in Westminster, CA on July 9, 1964, to Mary Kathleen "Kathy" and Charles Ruiz "Charlie" Placentia (dec'd). He attended Horace Ensign Intermediate in Newport Beach, Yucaipa High in San Bernardino County and Saddleback High in Santa Ana. He is survived by his mother and brother Patrick Allen "Pat" Placentia of OR; aunts Sheila Fairman of Carson City, NV; Sally Bottai of Medford, OR; Joanne Simmons(Mark) of Carlsbad, CA; Ruth Yneges(Tony) and Mary Ann Barela of Santa Ana, CA; former wife and longtime love, Kim White of Corona, CA; and many extended family members and friends. A private viewing was held for family and close friends on Tuesday, May 4; followed by a Celebration of Life on Sunday, May 16, at Laurelhurst Park in Portland, to honor and show our respect for the unique man we knew and loved. Cremated ashes were received by his mother; final interment at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange, CA will take place at a date to be determined by the family. Tom was a skilled carpenter, having been introduced to building construction at an early age by his father; then his mother's father, his Boompa, shared with him the intricacies of fixing and restoring virtually anything around the house or on the car. In his early twenties, he held positions in the field of property maintenance and management. He enjoyed the work and knew he was good at it, so there was a certain satisfaction in his day-to-day activities. Over time, he felt less and less fulfilled and gradually stepped away to focus on freelancing. He embraced taking on projects where his experience and input was sought; his attention to detail and accuracy were valued. This gave him the opportunity he craved to use his creativity and spatial abilities. Tom's passion was always basketball and he would jump into a game with a friend or stranger every chance he got, until sidelined by knee injuries; he remained a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. Then, there was baseball and the way he enjoyed the competitive atmosphere. Whether you won or lost, the camaraderie was everything to him. He loved to go on road trips – it didn't matter where he was going, how long the trip would last, or how he was going to get there. It would be an adventure and he was always ready to go. When it came to food: there could never be too many mashed potatoes and he would always call dibs on the turkey leg(s) at Thanksgiving. Like so many before him, Tom never knew how much he was loved and appreciated. He was smart and talented but perhaps his greatest attribute was his sensitivity and compassion towards others. He struggled with the inequities he saw during his life. He was an animal lover and one of those kids who always seemed to have a dog or cat follow him home; they must have sensed that they'd be accepted and cared for. He was truly one of those people who would give you the shirt off his back; buy you groceries or treat you to a meal; share what few dollars he had in his pocket, even if it meant that he was left with nothing. The sentiments expressed by family and friends upon learning of his passing have brought peace and comfort to all who loved him.