Thomas Joseph Sheehan

1929 - 2006

With his loving family by his side, Thomas Joseph Sheehan of Thousand Oaks passed away peacefully on Nov. 29, 2006, at age 77.

Tom was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who was deeply loved in return and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Tom and his wife of 55 years, Lovina, are 41-year residents of Thousand Oaks, and a large portion of their family has continued to live nearby.

Tom was a hard worker all of his life and he also greatly enjoyed leisure time with his family and dog, Max. He also devoted time to the community and explored his Irish heritage through music.

Born in Ithaca, N.Y., Aug. 15, 1929, Tom was a volunteer firefighter at age 14 with his father before joining the Air Force at 16 in 1946. Tom was stationed in the South Pacific and served until 1949.

After his discharge, Tom relocated in California and met Lovina Valle in Manhattan Beach on May 31, 1951. They were married on Nov. 22, 1951, and moved to Thousand Oaks in 1965. Tom and Lovina were inseparable; they were best friends, soul mates and camping partners.

Tom worked as a union welder for several decades and was particularly proud of his work on the rocket engines for the Apollo flights while working at Rocketdyne. He also taught welding at Pierce College and, after leaving the welding trade, became a construction superintendent in Thousand Oaks.

Fishing and baseball were Tom's loves when work was done. He enjoyed taking his family to Virginia Lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountains, calling it "God's country." He also loved deep sea fishing and passed his passion for fishing on to his children and grandchildren. He always talked about walking 10 miles to school in the snow with holes in his shoes. We believe him now.

Tom also enjoyed sports. He managed teams in the Conejo Valley Little League in the 1960s and 1970s, even after his sons finished playing. Teaching baseball and following the players he coached as they grew into adults were enormously satisfying to him. Tom also loved high school football and took great enjoyment in the performances this fall of his grandson Albert, and in the accomplishments of all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Rose Sheehan; sister, Rosie Sheehan; and daughter and son-in-law Mary Manfredonia and Arthur Manfredonia.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Lovina; daughters Carol Perry and husband William of Thousand Oaks, and Kay Arnold and husband Terry of Sacramento; sons, Tom Sheehan and wife Bev of Thousand Oaks and Mike Sheeha and wife Mary of Thousand Oaks; brother, Jim Sheehan of Jacksonville, Fla.; and sisters, Elizabeth Hill and Mary Tilton, both of Ithaca; grandchildren, Tommy Sheehan and wife Tiffany of Thousand Oaks, Teresa Thornhill and husband Jason of Kingman, Ariz., April Arnold of Sacramento, Michael, Sara, Albert and Erik Sheehan of Thousand Oaks and Heather Bundy of Thousand Oaks, and Tina Manfredonia and Nicole Manfredonia of Kingman, Ariz.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law George and Carol Anderson of Thousand Oaks; nephews, Lee and Albert Anderson; and niece, Shirley Engelbrecht.

Our family would like to express its sincere and heartfelt thanks for the prayers from our friends, family and churches during our trying times. Thank you to Dr. Barry, Dr. Giron and Dr. Afshar for their patient and loving care of our loved one. Thanks to the nursing staff for their kind and respectful care of Tom and his family.