Leonard Tom's Obituary
Leonard Tom passed away at the age of 73 on August 6, 2023, after a tough battle with cancer.
Born in San Francisco on May 9, 1950, to Robert P. Tom and Susan Y. (Dong) Tom, Leonard was an only child but grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins. He graduated from Lowell High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He then earned a master's degree in city Planning from UC Berkeley in 1977.
During his 43-year career, he successfully oversaw a number of capital programs for the City of San Francisco, including the Waterfront Transportation Projects Office and the Moscone West Convention Center. His final position was with the San Francisco Unified School District, overseeing school modernization programs. While a new challenge with many difficulties, Leonard found this period of his career to be incredibly fulfilling.
In his free time, Leonard enjoyed volunteering as a builder for Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, an organization he worked with since 1992. In addition, after many years of training, he earned his black belt rank in Aikido in 2022. Leonard enjoyed many outdoor hobbies such as hiking, backpacking, and sailing, but his true passion lay in woodworking. Over the decades, he designed and made many pieces of furniture for not only his own home, but other friends and family.
Leonard was a caring husband and devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his daughter Elizabeth; and his son, Michael.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, or the Oakland Zoo.
Visitations will be held from 4PM to 8PM on Monday, August 21, 2023, at Chapel of the Chimes (4499 Piedmont Ave.) in Oakland. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Chapel of the Chimes, starting at 10:30AM.
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