Tom Sachs

John Thomas (Tom) Sachs died peacefully on January 13, 2025, at his residence on Bainbridge Island, Washington, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. 

Born on February 12, 1935, in Fullerton, California, Tom was the only child of Carl Raymond (Ray) and Theresa Sachs. Tom was fascinated with airplanes as a child, and his mother, valuing an excellent education, enrolled Tom in a project-based elementary school in California, where his curiosity and love of learning were fueled. When Tom was 11 years old, he and his parents moved to Onalaska, Washington. Tom graduated from Onalaska High School in 1952, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and band. Tom earned money for his college education by playing drums in a swing dance band and working for the US Conservation Service, Boeing, and the Bonneville Power Administration. He graduated from Centralia Junior College in 1954 and from Seattle University in 1957, with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. 

After university, Tom worked in the Military Aircraft and Reconnaissance division of Boeing. One fateful summer day, his roommate, Bruce, invited Tom to dinner at his parents’ house in West Seattle. It was there that Tom met Bruce’s sister, Jane Carolyn McIvor, while she was picking cherries in a tree in the backyard. Tom and Jane were wed on June 9, 1962, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Seattle.

In 1963, Tom took a job at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in San Jose, California, as a Senior Research Engineer, in order to pursue his dream of developing technologies for space. For the next 14 years, he was in charge of designing the power systems of several communication satellites for military and commercial use over the US and Europe. Tom and Jane also started their family in San Jose, with John born in 1965, followed by Wendy (‘71), Katie (‘74), and Kevin (‘75). In his free time, Tom enjoyed photography, woodworking, and playing tennis. He also began crafting wines after taking a home wine making course from UC Davis.

In 1977, after deciding California was getting too crowded for their tastes, Tom and Jane purchased 80 acres from Tom’s parents and moved back to Washington. For three years, Tom worked logging the property while they built their dream home. After the eruption of Mt. St. Helens decimated timber prices, Tom worked in construction and as a piano refinisher, until 1988. He then took a job as the Director of Saint Mary’s Conference Center in Toledo, Washington. The director position was a perfect fit for Tom’s unique talents and disposition, requiring him to be leader, host, accountant, handyman, plumber, landscaper, carpenter, and engineer. He built many lasting friendships with staff and guests, and retired only when the Sisters of St. Francis sold the Conference Center in 2002.

Tom’s faith in God was central to his life. He was a very active member of the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Toledo, Washington, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, and parish historian, and as a member of the Parish Council, Men’s Group, and The Saint Vincent de Paul Society. His faith and dedication to others also led him to serve as a member of the Onalaska Lions Club, on the Onalaska School Board, and on the Providence Centralia Hospital Community Board as a council member and as President of the Board. Tom was also a coach, referee, and founding member of the Lewis County Youth Soccer Association.

Tom loved being outside, working in the trees and in his garden in Onalaska. He grew many different varieties of fruit and used that fruit, along with the wild blackberries found in abundance on the property, to create unique and delicious wines. He enjoyed woodworking, bird watching, and learning interesting facts about the world around him. Evenings were filled with classical music (especially Tchaikovsky), sipping homemade wine or his signature gimlet, and reading books or working on a sudoku puzzle.

In 2020, Parkinson’s disease made Tom more fragile, and he and Jane moved from their beloved house to Bainbridge Island to be closer to their children and healthcare providers. He endured Parkinson’s disease with courage and his care providers enjoyed his smile and gratitude. Tom’s family would like to thank Fieldstone of Bainbridge Island and Wyatt House staff and caregivers as well as his healthcare providers for their generous care.

Tom will be remembered for his kindness, compassion, life-long love of learning, humor, community engagement, and especially his warm smile.

Tom is survived by his loving and devoted wife Jane, with whom he was happily married for over 62 years. He will be dearly missed by his children: John Sachs (wife Laura), Wendy Butzerin (husband Peter), Katherine Sachs, Kevin Sachs (wife Julianne); and his grandchildren: Mitchell Sachs, Andre Sachs, Miles Sachs, Thomas Butzerin, Teresa Butzerin, Isabel Sachs, and Luke Sachs.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon on February 22, 2025, at St. Cecilia Church on Bainbridge Island. Interment will be held at a later date at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Toledo, Washington.

Contributions in memory of Tom may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, 139 Spencer Road, Toledo WA, 98591 (360-864-4130).