Thomas Tanaka

1957 - 2025

Thomas Tadao Tanaka was born October 19, 1957, in West Sacramento to Tadao and Shigeko Tanaka. Tom entered Nirvana on the evening of October 17, 2025 at the UCD Med Center ICU in Sacramento.

Tom grew up in Sacramento and proudly graduated from CK Mcclatchy High School in 1975. In 1978, he became a paraplegic after a tragic auto accident. Although he was no longer able to walk, Tom never stopped moving through life with a fiercely independent spirit, determined to live life.

Following his accident, Tom learned office skills in a Purple Heart program and was hired by the State of California's Department of Motor Vehicles in 1980 where he retired after 41 years of dedicated service. He served as Chair of DMV's Disability Advisory Committee and was active in Toastmasters.

Tom was an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, SF 49ers, and SF Giants. A collector of comic books, baseball cards, and memorabilia, his favorites were Star Wars, Dennis the Menace and Garfield. Tom also had an encyclopedic knowledge of movie trivia with the ability to recall Academy Award winners and the years they were awarded. Tom took semiannual trips to his favorite destination, Reno, often as a solo traveler.

Tom's dedication and discipline were unwavering, and he never complained about the profound challenges that life threw at him. He touched the lives of friends, family and strangers alike with his positive attitude and his bottomless well of jokes and good humor. Tom is preceded in death by his parents Tadao and Shigeko, sister Janice Lee (Raymond) and brother Paul (Karen). He is survived by sister Barbara, brothers Dave (Gail) and Ron, niece Cristina (Jack), and nephews Andrew, Cary and Mitchell.

The family thanks neighbor Jared and nurse Julie for their dedicated support and compassion.

In lieu of koden, please donate to the charity of your choice.

Private family services will be held. A celebration of Tom's life is tentatively scheduled for late February.