Thomas Jeremiah Lehane
Nov. 20.11.1933 to 11.11. 6. 2013
Tom Lehane, a proud native San Franciscan, was born just steps from the corner of Noe and Valley Streets and lived a life marked by devotion to family and faith. He leaves behind the love of his life, Evelyn Lehane, née Desmond, to whom he was married for 54 years. Deeply proud father of Mary Lehane-Matheson, Andrew Desmond Lehane and Melissa Lehane Rawlinson. He is preceded in death by his sweet boy, Matthew Thomas Lehane. Besotted Grandpa by Christopher Lehane, Xavier Matheson, Abigail, Amelia and Isabella Rawlinson. Cherished father-in-law of Mark Rawlinson, Nena Duran Lehane and Michael Matheson. He is survived by his sisters C. Patricia Casey and Margaret Caramucci and his brother Fr. Francis Lehane. His brothers John, Donald and Bill passed in front of him. Among his closest friends were his brothers-in-law Tom Casey, Joe Caramucci, Frank, Gerald and Tom Desmond. Tom is survived by numerous nieces and nephews in the Lehane and Desmond families.
Tom's life is the embodiment of the American dream for Irish immigrants. He attended St. Paul's Grade School and Sacred Heart High School and then joined the United States Navy, where he served during the Korean War as a member of the Navy SeaBees Mobile Construction Battalion, which built the U.S. naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines . After his service, he began his plumbing career with UA Local 38, where he worked as a journeyman plumber before joining the City and County of San Francisco Building Inspection Department in 1972. He was an inspector for the downtown district where he saw San Francisco. The city skyline grows, changes and blossoms. In 1985, Tom was appointed Chief Plumbing Inspector, a position he held until his retirement in 2000. His tenure as chief was characterized by innovation, modernization and, above all, fairness. As a boss, Tom was active locally, nationally and internationally with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and served on the Board of Directors for six years. Tom was a popular instructor of UA Local 38 plumbing apprentices for over 27 years and an IAPMO plumbing and mechanical codes instructor, teaching in every major city west of the Mississippi as well as at U.S. Air Force bases in Asia. Tom never tired of teaching and never ran out of stories and anecdotes for his students.
Tom's first love was his wife, children and family. He enjoyed traveling with Evelyn, visiting her friends (especially the St. Mary's girls) and enjoying all the experiences San Francisco had to offer together. He enjoyed playing cards and checkers with his grandchildren and discussing the latest Giants game with Frank Desmond. His passion for his family was matched by a quiet devotion to the Catholic Church, where he devoted much of his time to helping build and improve the facilities at St. Anne's School and Sacred Heart Elementary, now Mission Dolores Academy.
Friends may call at Duggan's Funeral Service, 3434 17th Street, San Francisco, on Sunday, November 10, beginning at 3:00 p.m. and praying the Rosary at 4:00 p.m.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2013, at 10 a.m. at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Avenue, San Francisco. Parking is available at Koret Center, Parker Avenue and Golden Gate Avenue. The funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mission Dolores Academy, 3371 16th Street, San Francisco, California, 94114.
Published by the San Francisco Chronicle November 8-10, 2013.
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