Thomas Jeremiah Lehane
Nov. 20, 1933 to Nov. 6, 2013
Proud native San Franciscan, born just steps away from the corner of Noe and Valley Street, Tom Lehane lived a life marked by devotion to family and faith. He is survived by the love of his live, wife of 54 years, Evelyn Lehane nee Desmond. Fiercely 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. Doting grandpa to Christopher Lehane, Xavier Matheson, Abigail, Amelia, and Isabella Rawlinson. Respected father-in-law of Mark Rawlinson, Nena Duran Lehane, and Michael Matheson. He leaves his sisters C. Patricia Casey and Margaret Caramucci and his brother P. Francis Lehane. His brothers John, Donald, and Bill passed before him. He counted his brothers-in-law Tom Casey, Joe Caramucci, Frank, Gerald, and Tom Desmond among his dearest friends. Tom is survived by numerous nieces and nephews in both 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, serving during the Korean War as a member of the Navy SeaBees Mobile Construction Battalion building the U.S. Naval Base at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. 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 Division in 1972. He was the inspector for the downtown district where he saw San Francisco ‘s skyline grow, change, and blossom. In 1985, Tom became the Chief Plumbing Inspector, a position he held until he retired in 2000. His tenure as Chief was marked with innovation, modernization, and most paramount, fairness. While Chief, Tom was active locally, nationally, and internationally with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and served six years on its Board of Directors. Tom was a much beloved instructor to the UA Local 38 plumbing apprentices for over 27 years and an IAPMO plumbing and mechanical code instructor where he taught in every major city west of the Mississippi as was as the 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. With Evelyn, he enjoyed travelling, visiting with their friends (especially the St. Mary’s girls), and taking in together all the experiences that San Francisco has to offer. He treasured playing cards and checkers with his grandchildren and talking to Frank Desmond about the Giants’ latest game. His passion for his family was matched with a quiet devotion to the Catholic Church where he gave considerable time to help build and improve facilities at St. Anne’s School and Sacred Heart Elementary, now Mission Dolores Academy.
Friends may visit Sunday, November 10, beginning at 3:00 and a recitation of the Rosary at 4:00 p.m. at Duggan’s Funeral Service, 3434 17th Street, San Francisco.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 o’clock in the morning on Veterans’ Day, Monday, November 11, 2013, at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Avenue , San Francisco Parking available at the Koret Center, Parker and Golden Gate Avenues. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mission Dolores Academy, 3371 16th Street, San Francisco, California, 94114.
Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, 2013.
