Thomas Cyril Wunderlich

I am so sorry to learn, just today, that Tom passed. Sending the family special prayers and love.

I met Tom in 5th grade at Brookhaven Elementary School when my family moved to the neighborhood. He lived close by and we became friends, though we didnt hang out that much. He was in this basketball clique... In junior high at Tuffree, Tom and I were in band together and, though he was certainly more talented than I in performance and theory, he seemed to appreciate my company and drew out of me a love for what I found fun and fascinating in music. What I so appreciated about Tom was that he was right there with me when I was enthusiastic about music or math or marching or science - whatever. He was able to share his enthusiasm and insight in a way that made me think we were very similar people. He made me feel less alone. It was unnecessary to exert any effort to sustain our friendship because he was so very present and engaging and positive. I went away to college and never saw Tom again that I recall, but have always thought about him and his brilliance. It was not a fame-seeking and overtly influencing kind of brilliance. I truly thought - and continue to think - of Tom as setting an example for how to live with intensity and relate with people to acknowledge shared enthusiasm for living.

One hilarious thing I remember about Tom was how he would *never* hang up first when we were pretty much done talking on the phone. I never won. I think I learned patience from his lesson. I think he was telling me that I was going too fast.

I recently learned that Tom played the piccolo part of The Stars and Stripes Forever March ON THE SOUSAPHONE (thats a marching TUBA) during one of our street rehearsals in high school. It was such a bold and appropriate action at the time that I must have been shocked into forgetting it happened for many years. Now when I think about it, it puts the biggest smile in my heart and I just want to laugh.

So I was shocked to hear recently that Tom had passed away and only now saw this posting. I cant emphasize, however, how much more grateful I am to have had him as a friend. Thank you, Tom, for being such a wonderful example of how to live.

Wow, I don't know why I just looked up Tom's name. He was my neighbor, friend, classmate at El Dorado High School. We walked to school together, we had a little crush on each other, tons of laughs together. Probably the first genius I ever met in my lifetime. I remember his curly hair and braces, and definitely his laugh.

I'm crushed. Tom and I grew up together. He was the best man at my wedding. Over the years, there would be several months that could go by without talking, but it had been a lot more since he hadn't returned any calls. Only today did I think to Google his name, and I just learned this.

...just stunned.

Dave.

Tuffree Jr. High School
El Dorado High School
Cal State Fullerton
And visits between California and Colorado

Thank you for all you were able to do in your short time with us. Thank you for all the work you did for the organizations you and I worked for.

May you never double-fault, and may you watch all the tennis games you want.

Goodbye, my friend.

Tom was my best friend and I will miss him every day.

Rest in peace. Appreciate your help over the years.

(This is the text of what I shared with those in attendance at Tom's memorial service.)

My name is Wally Wong, and I am one of Tom's many work colleagues.

I don't have a specific anecdote to pass along regarding Tom, but I want to speak to a body of work that spanned decades.

Personally, I have known Tom for most of my 30+ years of employment.

I think I first met Tom at the Anaheim Hills site not too far from here, at Imperial and La Palma. I don't have any recollection that he was with me during my early time in Santa Fe Springs. But since then, Tom and I have been in pretty much the same organizations throughout our careers, spanning sites from Anaheim Hills to Fullerton to Long Beach to El Segundo (well maybe not so much there, since the drive is horrible) to our virtual workspaces in Corporate IT Security, also spanning company ownership changes from Hughes Aircraft to GM Hughes to Raytheon.

I really grew to appreciate Tom's talents over the second half of our careers, when we were working as IT Security engineers, starting in Long Beach. A driven & tireless worker, technically astute, analysis skills that few could match, and an easy ability to collaborate, all of which made Tom such a well-respected colleague, not only within the company from east coast to west coast and global locations, but also with countless external vendors that we've worked with.

Tom has been an instrumental part of my career, and frankly, I owe Tom a huge debt of gratitude, for being there as a sounding board when evaluating engineering options, for being there as a second set of eyes for diagnosing a particularly obscure problem, for being there as a technical advisor while struggling with some programming or configuration issue, for being there as a friend. Those are some of the big things I'll miss.

A situation came up last week, and by mental habit the first person I would have consulted was Tom. I'm slowly coming to the realization that I will no longer be able to open a chat window or place that cell phone call and hail Tom with "hey", as was our custom, or get some explanation of how something is supposed to work and hear him conclude with "and uh, like that". Those are some of the little things I'll miss.

All told, it was a great privilege to have Tom as a colleague and friend, and I will be grateful to the end of my days.

Thank you Tom, rest in peace.

I always enjoyed talking with Tom, whether it be him helping fix an issue, him teaching me something new I did not know, or just chit chatting. I was happy to have been able to meet Tom in person more than once while living in California, I only regret not getting to know him better outside of work. You will be missed.

Eternal rest grant unto thee and let perpetual light shine upon thee..

I knew Tom through tennis at Fullerton Tennis Center. Although he is a very good player, he didn't mind playing with some of us who are not the same level as he is. He is the most gentle soul I've ever met and a very kind man.
My thoughts and prayers to all his family and love ones.

"The most painful goodbyes are the ones never said and never explained" -- unknown

I didn't know you as well as some, but I will miss your voice on conference calls. Goodbye Tom

Tom will be greatly missed by many co-workers and friends at Raytheon.