Tom Tomsich, 56, of Guilford, died at Yale -New Haven Hospital, surrounded by his family on June 6 after a two-year battle with an aggressive strain of mantle cell lymphoma. He was the husband of Gail Schjervheim Tomsich, whom he married on April 9, 1983. He was also the proud father of his daughter, Erin Elisabeth, who was born on April 5, 2000. Tom was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, on May 2, 1956, son of Marcella and Otto Tomsich.

He graduated from Parkway Central High School in 1974 and went on to study at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas. He received a BS degree in urban design and then a master's of architecture in 1980. Tom was also involved in an alternative energy program under the Carter administration in Lawrence, Kansas, right after graduation. In 1981, Tom moved to Dallas, Texas, and worked for Harwood K. Smith and Partners Architects, heading up a design studio that designed high-rise buildings. In 1988, Tom and Gail moved to Guilford, and Tom worked for Fletcher Thompson Architects in Bridgeport as their design director. At the time of his death, he was employed at Yale University in the facilities department, working on their large complex projects. In 2009, Tom earned his MBA from Southern Connecticut University, graduating summa cum laude.

Tom had many passions and talents. He was an accomplished artist and was known in this area for his Faulkner Island print, which he sold and donated the proceeds to the "Save the Lighthouse Campaign." An avid sailor, Tom served as commodore of the Sachem's Head Yacht Club from 2008 to 2009 and loved nothing better than taking a sail on his 34-foot boat, Casey 2. He was also a member of the Sachem's Head Frostbite group and loved racing the dingy boats. Tom always loved doing anything around boats. In addition to art and sailing, Tom was also a self- taught musician who played by ear and loved to pick up his guitar and play often for its pure enjoyment.

Besides his wife, daughter, and parents, Tom is survived by his siblings, Pat Chumley and her husband Tim, Cindy Erdtmann and her husband Rick, Sandra McDaniels and her husband Pat, Norma Tomsich, and Phil Tomsich, all residents of the St. Louis area. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Lori Herold and her husband Steve and Annette Evans and her husband John, and many nieces and nephews who remember him fondly. He was predeceased by his sister, Judy Tomsich.

A celebration of Tom's life will be held on Saturday, June 9, at 11 a.m., at the First Congregational Church in Guilford. The family requests no flowers. Contributions in his memory may be made to his daughter's college fund or to the First Congregational Church, c/o the Myrtha Licht Music Fund. The Guilford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit: www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com