Tom Lersak Chindanusorn's Obituary
On Wednesday evening, November 9, 2022 at 6:41 p.m., God called Tom home. Tom was born in Bangkok, Thailand on May 6, 1944 and was the son of Surang Vanicharack Chindanusorn and Boonrat Chindanusorn.
Tom loved music and as a young man in his 20's formed a band with some of his other musical friends. During the Vietnam War, they played at the Officer's Club on the Utapao, Thailand Air Base where U.S. B-52 bombers were stationed to fly their missions in and out of Vietnam. At the time, the Beatles were becoming very popular so Tom and the band dressed like the Beatles and sang their songs to the American fighter pilots. This is where Tom earned enough money to immigrate to the United States and came to California in the late 1960’s. Not knowing the English language, Tom enrolled in San Gabriel High School classes to learn the language. He worked various jobs such as dishwasher and truck driver, delivering seafood to restaurants, to support himself during this transition to America. This was vastly different from anything he had ever done in Thailand where he served in the Thai Army and honored his mother by becoming a Thai monk before his venture to the states. Tom's initiative and work ethic lead him to earn a degree in Electronic Engineering from Western States College of Engineering in 1974. After graduating, he went on to work in many aspects of the field from manufacturing machinery for the stock market to biomedical engineering. In 1982, Tom and his family moved to Tampa, where they resided for the past 40 years.
Tom loved being the center of attention and never met a stranger. He was always joking, sharing his magic tricks, singing, and smiling. He called himself an "MCM", musician, comedian, and magician. Tom was exceptionally artistic, musical, and organized. His daughter Tammy would go on to inherit all of these traits.
His grandson, Cayden, was the “Light of his Life". Cayden had his own room at his grandparent's house where Tom hand-painted the entire room with a mural of Cayden in a Hawaiian paradise. His Papa would take him swimming and eventually introduced him to one of his own favorite hobbies, golf.
Tom is survived by his wife of 41 years, Karen Chindanusorn, his only child, Tamara “Tammy” Weiss-Chindanusorn (Otto) of Tampa. He was “Papa” to Tammy and Otto’s son Cayden Weiss-Chindanusorn and step-grandfather to Otto’s daughters – Rya and Kyleigh. He leaves behind his mother-in-law Muriel Jean Gaeta, and brother-in-laws, Doug Parker and Kenny Parker, all of Tampa; nephew Kenny Parker II and his children Abbigail, Johnny, Kenny III, and Clayton of Bakersfield, California. Tom's other remaining survivors include his brother Tui Chindanusorn (Jutta) of Hamburg, Germany, Toi Chindanusorn (Panngam) of Khonkaen, Thailand, his sister Penwadee Chindanusorn of Thailand, niece Donya Ruangsant (Sakda) and their daughter Parita Ruangsant of Bangkok, Thailand, his nephew Dayan Chindanusorn (Cindy) and their children Maddox Chindanusorn and Emi Grace Chindanusorn of Lithia, Florida. Tom leaves behind many other family members. In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by father-in-law Daniel Gaeta. Tom had one very special friend, Dumri (Don) Ittarongk of Westlake Village, California. Don called Tom every week to check on him during his illness and even traveled from California with his wife Amy to visit Tom in January 2022.
Tom's cancer journey is over and he is free. No more doctor’s appointments, scan appointments, surgeries, treatments, or hospitalizations. Tom is free from the disease that took so much from him.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation for the compassion and support that Dr. Harry Van Loveren, M.D (Neurosurgery), Dr. Michael Jaglal, M.D. (oncologist) and Dr. Alan Zloto, D.O. (Internal Medicine) provided to the family during Tom’s illness.
Friends and family are invited to a memorial service to be held on December 3rd, 2022 promptly at 1:00 p.m. at Bay Hope Church Chapel (17030 Lakeshore Road Lutz, Fl 33558). Guests may arrive between 12:45 and 1:00.
A reception will immediately follow at Sushi Alive (13234 Racetrack Road, Tampa, FL 33626).
Flowers may be sent directly to the Bay Hope Chapel on the morning of 12/3 only.
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