Obituary of Thomas Lee Richardson

Tom (Dec 24, 1950 - Nov 1, 2015) died peacefully but unexpectedly, and is survived by his wife Mary Meurisse and daughter Julie, both of Herndon, VA, as well as his son Andrew of Cambridge, MA, sister Linda Richardson of Sloatsburg, NY, and numerous cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He is the son of Doris T. and Joseph R. Richardson, both deceased. Tom was born and raised in Willoughby, Ohio, attending Willoughby South High School. He played the French horn, was a paper boy, and was a life guard for many summers at the municipal pool. The town would always remain dear to his heart. He then studied engineering at Duke University and attained a Masters of Engineering at Georgia Tech. He worked in Atlanta for many years, where he met his wife, Mary Meurisse Keenan, whom he married on November 15, 1980, and to whom he would be a loving husband for almost 35 years. Tom's first priority was always his family, and he was a devoted father. He coached soccer, helped with Boy Scouts, went to crew meets, attended band and Winter Guard performances, and drove innumerable trips to lessons and colleges. He was a tireless worker who practiced moderation and commitment. He enjoyed playing bridge, swimming, watching sports, and reading about history. His love of family extended to an interest in family history, genealogy and heirlooms. Tom was a Professional Engineer who as a civil engineer worked on geotechnical and environmental projects. As a young man, he worked in Iran and then took six months to travel to India, through Turkey, the Balkans, and Western Europe. After getting married, his expertise with tunneling took his family from Atlanta to Hawai'i, to Florida, and finally to Herndon Virginia, where he lived for 15 years. He worked on the Metro subway system in Atlanta and supervised the completion of the H-3 Highway on Oahu, Hawai'i. While Tom was raised Methodist, he joined the Unitarian Universalist church and was active in it for many years. He was currently a member at the UU Congregation of Fairfax, Virginia, where he was a volunteer with religious education, youth ministry, social justice, and many church sponsored events. He had also recently become a Worship Associate there. As a young man, Tom was reserved, but over the course of his life he worked to become gregarious, confident, and social. He joined Toastmasters International, a public speaking club, of which he was a member for over thirty years. He was an Area Governor, an award-winning speaker, and had his quest not been cut short, he would have soon become a Distinguished Toastmaster. He loved bettering himself, helping others learn, and enjoying the camaraderie of the clubs. Beyond family, Tom's love and compassion embraced his whole community, and his enthusiasm and sense of humor were contagious. He organized neighborhood potlucks and garage sales. Nicknamed "Teacher Tom," he never passed up an opportunity to coach some young athlete practicing nearby. He will be missed by all who knew him. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax on Sunday, November 15th at 2:00pm. A second service will be held on December 12th at the Methodist church in Willoughby, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate donations for any of Tom's favorite charities, including DYNAinc.org, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, or the Willoughby Methodist Church.