Thomas Maurice TOMASI

1924 - 2016

TOMASI, Thomas Maurice Tom Tomasi passed away on September 16th from complications from a stroke. Tom was born on January 27, 1924, and grew up in Santa Rosa with his three younger brothers, Leroy, Ivan and Myron. Tom's father's parents were from Bodega, and his mother's parents were from Siskiyou County. Tom graduated from Santa Rosa High School's class of 1942. After high school he joined the service and was stationed in Chico where he trained to be a fighter pilot. While in Chico he met his first wife Yvonne Bishop and fathered their only son, David. He became a First Lieutenant with the Army Air Corps 49th Fighter Group and piloted P38 "Lightning" aircraft in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war he served in Japan during the Occupation where he piloted P51aircraft. He had many entertaining stories about his time in the Service. Tom returned to Chico and attended Chico State. He transferred to UC Berkeley where he met and in 1950 married Anita Migliavacca, also of Santa Rosa. They both graduated from UC Berkeley in 1951. Tom then obtained his Masters in Architecture from UC Berkeley. After working in architecture in Oakland for a few years, Tom and Anita toured Europe for several months with Tom's brother Ivan in tow. Soon after returning they moved to Sacramento where their two sons, Don and Alan, were born. In 1961 the family moved back to Santa Rosa. Tom worked for the Santa Rosa firm of Steele and Van Dyk for several years, and then founded his own architectural practice in 1965. In 1967 he formed a partnership with Thomas Fruiht. Their office was located in a prominent Victorian house at the corner of Sonoma and Brookwood Avenues. Tom had a long history in Santa Rosa architecture and was responsible for a wide variety of residential, commercial and educational projects. Some notable local projects are the 1111 Sonoma Avenue Medical Building and Forsyth Hall, the music building at Santa Rosa Junior College. Tom's sons with Anita, Don (wife Lorri, children Jeffrey, Genna, Michael) and Alan (wife Debbie, children Brittney and Chelsea), followed their father into the field of architecture. After practicing with son Don for a number of years, Tom retired as a principal in 1993, though he continued to work part time for many years. Upon Tom's retirement, Don took over his father's firm, now TLCD Architecture. In 2004 Alan started his own firm, TSArchitects, in Los Angeles. Tom was a member of the Santa Rosa Civic Arts Commission for 14 years, the Santa Rosa Library Art Committee, the committee for the search for a site for both the SR City Hall and the new Santa Rosa Library and a member of the UC Berkeley Alumni Group. He was a founding member, and later president of the American Institute of Architect's Redwood Empire chapter. In the 1970s he was elected to a 4-year term on the Rincon Valley Union School District Board. Tom was dedicated to his family, who travelled extensively on trips to Mexico, Central American, Europe, and Canada, as well as frequent camping and backpacking trips. After his children grew up, Tom continued to travel with his wife to numerous locations throughout the world. Tom's other interests included gardening, pottery, woodcarving and reading. Tom was predeceased by his brothers, Ivan and Leroy. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Anita; his sons and grandchildren; his brother, Myron (Marie); and his sister-in-law, Lia. A memorial will be held at a future date.