Thomas Jeffrey LaFlesh, teller of puns, beloved brother, father, and husband, passed away at the age of 85 on March 7, 2025.

Tom was born to Jack and Bernice LaFlesh in Antioch, California on July 20, 1940. He was soon followed by Susan, Joyce, and Hal.

After high school and not yet ready for college, Tom joined the Air Force. While stationed in Virginia in the early 1960s, he attended the closest college to him, Hampton Institute, which happened to be a historically black school during segregation. He rode to classes in full uniform on his bike, attracting the attention of one student in particular, Betty June Read. They moved to California (where it had recently become legal for them to marry) where he earned a BA in political science from Chico State College, and soon had two children, Teri and Jeff. Wanting to make the world better for them, Tom canvassed for the NAACP and was elected to the Brisbane school board twice.

A gifted software engineer in the Bay Area during the 1980s, Tom could think in base 16 as easily as base 10. Ever an explorer, he graduated law school and passed the Bar Exam on the first try (most need at least two or three tries), joined MENSA, performed Gilbert & Sullivan with the Lamplighters, and learned to pilot a small plane (even flying his kids to visit his parents in Chico).

His domestic life shifted several times until he met the love of his life, Meredith Gelhaar, in 1986, beginning a romance that would last nearly 40 happy years. An avid gardener, he often joked that when house hunting, he bought a large sunny backyard in Tacoma, Washington perfect for growing veggies—that just happened to have a house on it.

Ever a seeker, Tom continued to challenge himself in unique and unexpected ways, including driving a large city bus in Seattle and working as a professional Santa replete with twinkling eyes.

During the last years of his life Tom and Meredith moved to Philadelphia to be surrounded by Meredith's warm, talented, and loving family.

Tom is survived by his "partner-in-crime" sister Susan, his children Teri and Jeff, his grandson Jagger, and his beloved wife Meredith. Though he is deeply missed, he lives vividly in our hearts and memories.

His funeral will be held at Fitzpatrick Funeral Home at 1500 Old York Road, Abington, PA on Saturday, March 15, 11:15 am.