Thomas Limperis

Thomas Limperis passed away at the age of 98 peacefully on February 2, 2024, surrounded by his loving family on Long Island. Tom is survived by his wife Vacilia, his children Ernest, Constantine and wife Anja, his daughter Maria and husband Stan as well as his grandchildren Sami, her husband Colby, Lian Kirit, Adam and Areti.

Tom was born on December 22, 1925, in Ohio, where he lived with his family in Yorkville. His parents, Maria and Anastasios, had immigrated to the U.S. to escape war in Asia Minor. When the steel mills shut down causing terrible poverty and unemployment, his family decided to move to NYC in pursuit of a better life. After he graduated from high school, he went to the Newark College of Engineering where he majored in civil engineering. When the program was discontinued, Tom applied to the Penn State Civil Engineering program where he was accepted but had to wait a semester. During this break, he worked as an elevator operator at Rockefeller Center.

In 1945, as WW ll was coming to an end, he was drafted into the U.S. Army

and deployed to West Virginia where he was promoted to sergeant.

After his honorary discharge, he attended and graduated from Penn State under the GI Bill.

He was employed in various civil engineering positions on the East Coast including Boston, where he lived for a few years. He moved back to NYC where he met his future wife, Vacilia. They got married in 1954.

Tom and Vacilia lived in Forest Hills, and after their family grew to three children, moved to Syosset, NY. Tom was now commuting daily on the Long Island Rail Road to his city job at Weiskopf & Pickworth. Weekends were devoted to the family and taking care of the home, bringing kids to little league and other events, mowing the lawn, doing repairs, and reading the Sunday paper.

He loved the seasons. Springs were spent with the kids planting a vegetable garden. Summers, fishing at Jones Beach at sunset. Autumn, apple picking, and winters enjoying the holidays.

Tom took great pride in his civil engineering work. Often, when on family vacations he included a detour to look at a building project he had worked on or a visit to an architectural landmark. He worked with many renowned architects including I.M. Pei. Many of his projects can be seen across America, from modern office buildings in New York City, to homes on Cape Cod.

Tom loved a good joke and was the master of a deadpan delivery. He was a fan of Buster Keaton and enjoyed being silly with his children when they were young and later his grandchildren. He would dance during his grandchildren’s impromptu living room concerts and, to the dismay of some, teach them how to gamble, playing penny poker, gleeful at his own winning streaks.

He also loved solving word puzzles and Sudoku. So many memories were made in the fall, when the whole family would drive upstate on their annual apple picking adventure together. His salmon recipe is famous amongst his children and grandchildren. The recipe has been passed on to the next generations, who continue to cook it and love it.

Most of all, we will remember Tom’s big hugs and his hearty laugh.

Tom will be greatly missed. He was irreplaceable. He taught us to be your best, work diligently and remember to be silly. Our memories of him will stay with us forever.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Saint Jude, Children’s Hospital or Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Or please donate blood at your local blood drive.