SMSGT Thomas E. Tomoff, USAF (Ret.) was born on October 27, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. He passed away under Hospice care at home June 10, 2022. In 1951, while attending Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL he received his draft notice for the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry in Korea. While in the Army, he was also stationed in Fukuoka, Japan and met the “love of his life” Hatsuko Nakagawa. Unfortunately, Thomas’ five-year Army tour in Korea and Japan had ended and he had to return to the U.S. He wanted to return to Japan to reunite with the love of his life, so he re-enlisted in the United States Air Force. Thomas and Hatsuko were married February 24, 1958, at the U.S. Consulate. While his time in the USAF, he was stationed at Edwards AFB, CA and Holloman AFB, NM. He completed four tours of duty in Vietnam with the 400th MMS (munitions) Squadron -18th Wing based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. During his time at Kadena, he completed his Master’s in Education through the University of Maryland. After he retired from the Air Force in 1973, he moved his family from Cannon Air Force Base, NM to St. Petersburg, Florida. He began his first career with vocational rehabilitation State of Florida, counseling veterans and his second career as a DUI instructor/consultant with the National Safety Council. He is survived by his children: Charles Tomoff and his wife Debbie of Largo, and his two daughters: Martha Ross of Largo, and Patricia Quartermaine and her husband Ben of Sarasota; 4 grandchildren: Marcus Tomoff, Amanda Ross, Kyle Ross, and Lilly Quartermaine.

There will be a visitation held Friday, June 24, 2022 from 11am – 12pm with Service at 12pm and a reception to follow, all at Veterans Funeral Care, 830 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater.