Thomas Herbert Springer

Thomas Herbert Springer quietly left our lives on March 29, 2017 in Seattle Washington. Tom was preceded in death by his father, Herbert J. Springer and his mother, Betty Lou Welterlen Springer. He is survived by his two sons and pride of his life, Jeff and Todd, Todd’s wife Chizuru and his cherished granddaughter, Miya.  He is also survived by the mother of his sons, Michelle Quirmbach and his seven siblings, Cathy, Sue, Mary, Nancy, Jim, John and Peter

Tom around 1979

Growing up in Southern California, amid an active, frequently rowdy family, Tom was the first born son, the blonde, California golden boy.  Swimming and sailing were his favorite pastimes. Always even tempered and calm, surrounded in age by four sisters, his dad called him “a rose between four thorns”. Being the peacemaker, he managed to avoid the drama of the teen years.

After graduating from Alemany High School and Pierce College, he began working with his father in the construction trade, erecting industrial buildings in the San Fernando Valley.

A serious traffic accident on the California freeway changed his life forever in 1985. Although Tom faced great difficulty regaining speech and the ability to walk, he approached the challenges with a quiet and determined spirit. After years at Howard House, a facility for brain injured adults in Escondido California, where he had many loving caregivers and therapists, his family moved him to Great Shepherds Adult Family home in Seattle Washington.  Being nearer to his son and family as well as many family members in the Seattle area, allowed him many more visitors and excuses for celebration. Always delighted to see his sons, and especially his granddaughter Miya, many afternoons were spent playing cards and the board game “Sorry” which he always managed to win.

His extended family always brought baseball caps from their travels and photos of family covered his walls.  Tom was surrounded by love from his extended family and loving caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tom’s name to:

San Diego Brain Injury Foundation.   http://sdbif.org/   – This organization operates Howard House, a brain injury facility where Tom lived for over 20 years    or    Brain Injury Alliance of Washington http://www.biawa.org/