Thomas Legan

Jan 19, 1943 - May 31, 2018 Fremont

Tom passed away on 5/31/18 from injuries he sustained 17 years ago. He was surrounded by his siblings. Tom was born in South San Francisco and graduated Class Valedictorian from Castro Valley High School in 1960. After serving as an Exchange Student in the Mexican Military Academy, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point NY in 1964. He then served as a Captain on the 38th Parallel in Korea as a Nuclear Weapons Officer and completed his military service in Germany.

As a civilian, Tom was Western Regional Marketing Director for Kaiser Cement and was thereafter appointed and then elected as Santa Clara County Supervisor for two terms. He retired from public service with a vision impairment he sustained during his military service. in 2002 he suffered traffic related injuries that confined him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. After two years in the VA Hospital in Palo Alto CA, Tom moved to the Marriott in Newark CA and then to the Carlton Plaza Senior Living Center in Fremont.

Tom was an avid hunter, sports fan, theatre fan and cribbage contestant. Despite his challenges, he was always jocular and made friends with folk from all walks of life. He was insistent that he attend all his West Point class reunions. He never complained and lived life to the fullest. He was an inspiration to all.

Tom is survived by his son Tom Jr and grandchildren Nick, Rosino, Carlo and Santino. He is also survived by his siblings Mike Legan, Pat Jensen, Kathy Kempen and Bill Mohr, his Aunt Alice Kukar and his nephews Jeff and Michael Mohr, Chuck, Scot and Alex Legan, Dan Jensen, David and Nicholas Kempen and his brother-in-law Bernie Kempen, and his sisters-inlaw Shelli Mohr and Nancy Legan. Tom’s family is sure that he is playing cards right now with his mother Ada (Potato) and eating House of Pizza!