Terrence "Terry" Thomas O'Toole

December 22, 1942 — January 14, 2023

Terrence "Terry" Thomas O'Toole Profile Photo

Terrence Thomas O’Toole was born December 22, 1942 in Pasadena, California to Horace and Mary O’Toole.  He was the first boy in a family of ten children, all raised in the San Gabriel Valley.  Terry attended Holy Family Catholic church and school as a youngster.  He was part of the first class to graduate La Salle High School in Pasadena after its founding.  He went on to attend Pasadena City College and Woodbury College, studying business.

Terry loved being a businessman and it suited him.  He sold plywood and manufactured housing, before moving to the flooring industry where he would make his mark.  With friends he founded Cambray Mills, a carpet manufacturer which grew to be the largest mill on the West Coast.  After Cambray, Terry spent decades in the flooring business in Georgia and the West.  He wrapped up his career as owner of Carousel Custom Floors in Pasadena.  At the store, on Green Street not far from where his father had a gas station, he would routinely greet old friends with a firm handshake and stories about his youth in and around Pasadena.

Terry was deeply attached to two places, Pasadena and Long Beach.  Brought to Long Beach as a child by family who owned beach cottages, Terry found a love of the ocean in Alamitos Bay and Seal Beach.  Sailing, body surfing, and windsurfing were all part of his life and one time or another.  When he moved to Belmont Shore as a young man he met Vicki Quinlivan, they married and had two children, Quinn and Megan.  They were raised across the street from the beach cottages.

Later, Terry would meet and marry Pamela Mitchell.  They made a home in Belmont Heights and lived a California dream with frequent sails around Long Beach and trips to Catalina.  They later spent years in the suburbs of Atlanta, where Pam’s large family is located. After years of working to add to their family, Terry and Pam welcomed Madelyn into their lives in 2008.  She is growing up around Alamitos Bay, a place Terry felt dear.

Terry is remembered as a kind and generous man.  He was quick to help others and if he couldn’t help, he would help you find the help.  He was incredibly grateful for what he had and would often remark on how lucky he was.  When asked how he was in recent years, he’d usually reply “nearly perfect.”  And he believed it.

Terry is survived by wife Pamela, daughter Madelyn (15), daughter Megan, son Quinn and first wife Vicki.  Also grandchildren Patrick (9), Fionn (7) and Maggie (4).

Terry passed away a month following his 80th birthday celebration having a stroke and pneumonia.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Long Beach on Feb. 4.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities Los Angeles.


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