Thomas Salsman

Funeral information

Home: Napa, CA	Place of Birth: NM
Date of Death: February 26, 2010	Birthdate: October 12, 1925
	Age: 84

Funeral Service: Friday, March 05, 2010 11:00 AM Tulocay Funeral Home, Napa, CA

Biography

Thomas W. Salsman passed away peacefully on Feb. 26, 2010, after a brave battle with cancer.
Tom was born Oct. 12, 1925, in New Mexico, to the late Jesse and Verna Salsman. Tom and his family moved to Napa in 1935. After graduating from Napa High School, he joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving in the Aleutian Islands. He loved to recount his Navy experience, and he and Ann revisited Dutch Harbor in 1993.
He married Ann Kennedy in 1950, and in 1951 he began an apprenticeship at Mare Island and advanced to the design division. He often recalled fond memories of his friends and years there. Tom joined State Farm Insurance as an agent in 1960. He established his own client base and became a successful agent for 34 years, retiring in 1994. He attained high recognition and honors for his quality service.
Tom was described in a citation from the Napa Chamber of Commerce as "an individual fully dedicated to community service." He was a member of Napa Community College Board of Trustees for eight years, serving one year as president. He was also a member of the City of Napa Planning Commission. Tom was recently honored as a sponsor of Joe DiMaggio baseball for 30 years. He was a long-standing member of the Elks Lodge No. 832, serving as trustee. His other affiliations are American Legion, Post 113 (Past Commander), Moose Lodge, VFW, and U.S. Navy League.
Tom had a true passion for local, regional and national politics, successfully serving as a campaign manager for several candidates. He was especially proud of his association with then-Governor Ronald Reagan while serving as chairman of the Republican Central Committee.
Tom would like to be remembered as a man who loved God, his family, his community and his country. He is survived by his wife, Ann; five children: Marilyn of American Canyon, John of Mountain View, Jeff (Cindy) of Napa, Matt (Nina) of Napa, and T.J. of Illinois; and five grandchildren: Eric, serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq, Lindsay, attending Chico State University, Ryan, attending Sonoma State University, and Kennedy and Thomas of Napa. Also surviving are his sisters, Bette Calcanini of West Covina, Barbara Bedward (Jack) of Wisconsin, Eileen Randol of Napa, and Beulah Tews (Marvin) of Napa; brother Mel Salsman (Andria) of Long Beach; sister-in-law Kathy Kennedy Myers (David) of Penryn, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Worth and Jesse.
His family and friends admired his genuine kindness, his honesty, his generosity and his ethics both in personal relationships and in business.
His memorial service will be held Friday, March 5, at 11 a.m., at Tulocay Funeral Home, 411 Coombsville Road, Napa. Honorary pallbearers are his four grandsons: Eric, Ryan, Kennedy and Thomas Salsman.
In lieu of flowers, contributions maybe made in Tom's memory to the American Cancer Society, 1132 Jefferson St., Napa, CA 94559; Alzheimer's Association of America, 1211 N. Dutton Ave. Suite A, Santa Rosa, CA 94501; Hospice of Napa Valley, 414 S. Jefferson St., Napa, CA 94559; Queen of the Valley Medical Center, 1000 Trancas St., Napa, CA 94558.