Thomas L. Larimore

OCEANSIDE, CA — Thomas Lester Larimore, 85, passed away on May 24, 2021. Born and raised in Ventura, CA, Tom graduated from Ventura High School in 1954, and from San Jose State University in 1958 with a degree in journalism. Tom married Nancy Huddleson in 1959. Following a tour of duty with the U.S. Army, he joined the staff of the Ventura County Star - Free Press as a reporter and then editor of the newspaper’s Modern Family section.

In 1969 Tom, Nancy, and their children, Terri and John, moved to San Diego County (Chula Vista and later Poway) when Tom joined the San Diego Gas & Electric Company’s public relations department as editor of the News Meter. He remained with the company for nearly 30 years. Tom was named SDG&E’S director of community affairs for South Orange County in 1984, serving as liaison between the company and the five SOC cities serviced by SDG&E at the

September 7, 1935 - May 24, 2021 time.

Tom and Nancy established a home base in San Clemente and were active participants in civic groups throughout the area. Over his 14 years in this position, Tom coordinated the distribution of more than half a million dollars in contributions from SDG&E and its employees to many organizations, activities, and nonprofit groups in SOC. He was especially proud of establishing a college scholarship program on behalf of the company. Tom devoted hundreds of hours of personal time to community projects such as Laura’s House Shelter

and the annual San Clemente Fiesta.

Following his retirement from SDG&E in 1998, Tom joined South Coast Medical Center, Laguna Beach, as manager of community relations.

Tom was a lifelong, enthusiastic, and active participant in numerous professional and civic groups and community service projects: member of the Society for Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi); president, man of the year, and district chairman of the year, Ventura Junior Chamber of Commerce; board member, Poway Pop Warner Football; board member, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce; board member, San Clemente Chamber of Commerce; board member and president, Boys & Girls Club of San Clemente; co-founder and board member, Boys & Girls Club of San Juan Capistrano; and president, San Clemente Rotary.

Tom was predeceased by his parents, Marjorie (Cornwell) and John

Larimore; his stepfather, H. Sheldon Greene; his stepmother, Pauline Larimore; and by his wife of 58 years, Nancy Larimore, in 2017.

Tom is survived by his sisters, Margie Rogers (Dwight) and Linda Greene; his sister-in-law, Diane Huddleson; his two children, Terri Morus (Steve) and John Larimore; his four grandchildren, Jenny Zablan (Charles), Laura Mallorca (Francis), Melissa Halmaghi (John), and Zachary Larimore; his beloved five greatgrandchildren, Charlotte and Zoe Zablan, Karis and Analyn Mallorca, and Elijah Thomas Halmaghi; his niece Devon Riesenberg (John) and sons Jack and Luke; and his nephew, Matthew Rogers.

Tom retained a lifelong journalist’s curiosity about people. He loved to hear their stories and take their pictures with his everpresent camera.

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