Thomas Edward Magdaleno

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the loss of our father, Tom Magdaleno. Dad passed in the early morning of February 11, 2024, exactly 25 days after the loss of our dear mother Frances. We sincerely believe that, despite his physical injuries from a bad fall he experienced two weeks after she left us, that Dad passed from the pain he was suffering from Mom's absence. He was devastatingly heart-broken.

Thomas Edward Magdaleno was born in California to Tomas Negrete Magdaleno and Maria Luisa Loera on September 21, 1935. He was the second son of four children. Tom grew up in Los Angeles county and spent most of his childhood and young adult years in Compton. He attended St. Anthony High School in Long Beach. In his teenage years, Tom’s priority was dressing in nice suits, driving his ‘54 Chevy, and hanging out with his social club “The Valentino’s.” He served in the Korean War as a Mess Hall Cook. He met Frances Campas at a wedding of a mutual friend. They were married in

1957. Their first born, Thomas Edward Jr., arrived in 1958. In 1959, Karen Elaine arrived. Four years later, they purchased their first and last home in Norwalk. That summer, Juliet Anne came and was followed by James Anthony (1964), Catherine Rose (1966) and Christi Lynn (1967). Tom insisted on a Catholic education for his children. He and Frances worked hard to accomplish this goal and to provide a budget for extracurricular activities and getaways in the family camper. Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. During the years the kids were involved in youth football and cheer, Tom helped the teams with equipment and was always running the snack shack when it was our team’s turn. Lifelong friends were made there. While Tom Jr. started at St. Paul High School, he became a member of the Booster Club. Friday football games were a tradition that began in 1972 and continued long after all six of the kids had graduated. Thomas worked at the Crown Zellerbach plant in the City of Industry from 1963 until he was forced into retirement in his ‘60s. As a man who loved the kitchen, he then attended the Culinary Program at Cerritos College. In the years that followed, he and Frances donated many weekends to serve as cooks for the Long Beach Search Young Adult retreats and continued to do so for many years. They also became world travelers. They embarked on cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and throughout Europe. They bought a timeshare in Las Vegas and spent many weekends together there and also summers with their children and grandchildren. They became grandparents in 1981. And at the end of 2003, he was Grandpa Tom to 16. And, in 2022, his fourth great-grandbaby was born. He and Frances were kept busy with all of the activities of their grandkids from sports to theater. Tom never forgot birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would often find Papa Tom at the door with a gift or a box of chocolates for all of these celebrations. For the past few years, his priority was the care of his first love Frances. They were rarely apart. He lost her on January 17th of this year. Three weeks later, he passed away of a broken heart on Superbowl Sunday, February 11th.