Birth date: Oct 29, 1954 Death date: Oct 30, 2016
On Sunday, October 30, 2016, Thomas Peter Pappas passed away at his home in Waterford, Virginia, surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of Deborah Kay Pappas. Loving son of Marie Pappas and the late Peter Pappas. He Read Obituary
Dear Debbie,
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I just found out. I have been praying since you told me at Ida Lee that day in the pool.
Tommy’s daughter, Kiersten, has coached my two children and I in tennis for the past two years. She is an excellent teacher. She describes what the player needs to do in visual terms, she’s incredibly patient and makes tennis lessons fun!
We are so saddened to hear about the loss of her father. We send our deepest condolences and prayers during this difficult time.
Knowing Tommy was an adventure. I still can't think of him in terms of "memory". He was such a force of strength, humor, compassion, humor, pride, fun, humor, knowledge, humor, honor, integrity.....and did I mention humor???
HE was always just "Tommy". I'd say, "I talked to Tommy today etc".....never, ever, did whomever I was speaking to ask, "Tommy who?" There was only one.....kinda like Cher...no last name required.
HE loved his family with a fierceness that was a thing of beauty. He ruled his household with a loud voice and velvet hands....on the few occasions his harem allowed him to actually believe he was the ruler. Which he realized and was man enough to find amusing......because Tommy suffered no fools. HE had an uncanny ability to accurately sum up the true nature of anyone he met....in seconds!
He was such a MAN....but as soft hearted as a nun. His expression upon seeing a baby could not of been more tender.
And, his Debbie was his perfect friend and lover. Their interaction was a thing to behold, the Ying and the Yang of two intelligent strong personalities that shared a sweet, close, raucous journey through life with four beautiful, elegant daughters.
As I am daily struggling with the reality of losing my own sweet man....I think of all of you. I've not told Skip about Tommy because, although he remembers very little, he remembers Tommy. It would break his heart.
One Tommy story that will live with my family forever was....Debbie was hugely pregnant with Kiersten and lamenting about the less than perfect amount of unwanted weight she had gained. Erin popped up and said, "Hey, Mom, how big is the baby, now"? Without skipping a beat, Tommy says, "Your Mom hopes about 50 pounds!!".......still cracks me up!!
And the visual I have of Tommy jumping off our diving board into a child's innertube.....only to become the first human dreidel in history.
My heart aches for all of you and anyone that knew him. It's difficult to mourn a man who achieved a good marriage, great children, close family and a successful business.....I've always thought the true measure of a man is how much his children like him..not just love but LIKE him. In actuality, I mourn any one who never had the adventure of knowing .......TOMMY. I love all of you....
We are so sorry for your loss. Tom was a great man who deeply loved his family. You could tell he truly felt blessed by God when he talked about Debbie, the girls, his grandchildren, home, and life in general. Always kind and ready to help, he plowed us out of many a snowstorm and has been a wonderful neighbor who we will all miss.
John and Mary Kate White and the Boys
Sending our deepest Synpathy to Debbie and all their family and friends🙏 Tom's life touched our families beginning when our children began attending WATERFORD Elementary School together As well Debbie & Tom's business and ours have worked together thru our children. May he rest in Peace knowing he BLESSED us all!
Karen, Don, Donnie & Joey Walker
