Tom Davitt

Tom was born December 21, 1959 in Rockville Centre, NY. He grew up in Massapequa, NY and graduated from Massapequa High School in 1978. He attended The United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated with a B.S in Engineering in May 1982. While at West Point, he attended Airborne School and received his Parachutist Badge. After graduation he was stationed as a 2ndLieutenant at Ft. Ord, CA. He served as an Infantry officer in the 7thInfantry Light Division (Buccaneers). In 1983, he married the love of his life, Linda, at the West Point Catholic Chapel in West Point, NY. He completed Ranger School in 1984. In 1985, Captain Davitt was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA. While stationed at Ft. Benning, Tom was a Senior Trainer at the US Army Infantry School. He trained hundreds of prospective military officers who would go on to be future Colonels, Generals and Secretaries of Defense. He was Honorably Discharged on November 4, 1988. During his Military Career, he earned The Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Ranger Tab and Parachutist Badge.

In 1988, Tom began his 32-year career with Michelin Tire Corp, NA. From March 1989 through June of 1992, he was a Territory Representative in the San Francisco Bay Area. He then moved up to Territory Manager of the San Joaquin Valley, CA. from July 1992 until 1995. In April 1995, Tom and his family moved to Medina, OH, where he became the District Truck Tire Sales Manager of the Cleveland Region. In 1998, Tom and his family moved to Rocklin, CA, where he became the Regional Manager of the Sacramento Region. In 2002, Tom and his family moved to Overland Park, KS. From July 2001 through 2007, he was the Zone Channel Sales Manager of the Central Zone, US. Tom became the Strategic Account Manager in the Refuse Segment, North America from July 2007 – December 2012. In 2013, Tom became the Segment Operations Manager of Refuse, Construction, Energy, AMN. This lasted until 2016 when he became the Director of Sales Small Fleet/Uniroyal Truck (B2B AMN). Tom was responsible for the successful launch and sales of the new Uniroyal truck tire product line. Tom’s last position began in 2019 when he became Global Manager, OE Defense Mobilities in the Military Sector. He held this position until his death in December 2020.

People have described Tom as a respected leader and mentor who was always there to provide encouragement and support. He had an incredibly strong work ethic and faced challenges, both at work and in life, head on. Tom’s infectious laugh, quick wit, and positive attitude permeated everything in his life, including his battle with cancer. Tom loved his family and supported them in every way. In his free time, Tom loved listening to music while driving his sports cars in the Kansas sun. He was obsessed with sports, particularly anything to do with the New York Yankees, Ohio State Football, or the New York Rangers. Tom enjoyed traveling, especially anywhere with a beach, taking long walks and playing PlayStation games. Over the years, he was surrounded by his loyal dogs, Garth, Max and Brutus.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, John “Jack” Davitt and Patricia (Goodman) Davitt.

Tom is survived by his wife of 37 years, Linda (O’Brien) Davitt; his son Sean Davitt (Megan); his daughter Kelly (Davitt) McClure (Kirk); his daughter Kaitlyn Davitt; his grandson Jack Thomas Davitt; his brothers Michael Davitt and John Davitt (Tracy), and other family and friends.

A funeral mass will be held Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 14201 Nall Avenue, Leawood, KS 66223. Family eulogies start at 10:30 am.