Thomas STRICKLAND

1959 - 2022

STRICKLAND, Thomas Lee "Strick" 63, left our world on November 29, 2022, after a brief illness. He fought back the best he could, but ultimately acknowledged that God had other plans for him. Tom was born in Austin, TX, to Robert and Evelyn Strickland on April 28, 1959. He was predeceased by his mother. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Bonnie; his father, Robert; his daughter, Ashley; his son, Tommy Jr.; daughter-in-law, Kim; grandchildren, Finn and Lily; his brother, Blaine Stricklan; sister-in-law, Eileen; niece, Casey; nephew, Hunter; his sister, Jill Williams; brother-in-law, Andy; niece, Whitney; and nephew, Drew. Tom graduated from Florida Institute of Technology in 1979, the University of Florida in 1983, with a bachelor's degree in building construction, and achieved his LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professional designation in 2009. Tom's unwavering commitment to a set of core values was applied to every aspect of his life: honesty and integrity, trust and respect, competency and teamwork. These became the foundation upon which Tom and Bonnie established Suncoast AutoBuilders in 1987, a design/build construction company that specializes in building automotive facilities. To date, they have completed over 400 new or remodeled dealership projects throughout Florida, plus South Carolina, Alabama, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. In recent years, the company changed its name to Suncoast Team Services, to better reflect the diversification of their portfolio, which now includes a wide range of assignments, ranging from office complexes, law offices, medical facilities, churches, and custom luxury homes. Tom was defined by his commitment to his faith, family, and friends. He was always mindful of the work/life balance, whether it was creating special events for his employees, or pursuing his favorite pastimes of boating, fishing, and hunting. He was also a devoted member of C12 and Harbor Ministries. A memorial service is scheduled for 4 pm on December 15, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in St. Petersburg. A celebration of life will be held afterwards; the location of that gathering will be announced at the end of the service. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg (https://stpete.academyprep.org/), Alzheimer's Association (alz.org), or to the American Cancer Society.