Tomas C. Ronsairo

I knew him simply as my Dad. Most called him Tatay Tom, Mang Tom or Brod. His smile was as big as a laugh and it was contagious, his funny sense of humor, no filter many times, had no attention span whatsoever (guess where I get that from!). His tenderness was evident to everyone he encountered. He blessed everyone and I mean literally, in many cases, taking your forehead to bless you for any trip you may be taking or for any reason for that matter without a second thought. He helped people the same way. I never understood why our home in the Philippines was always so full of people, family, friends and strangers alike. Not until my mom passed and I was an adult did I realize the full impact of my father’s job in the Philippines and how many countless people he helped and my mom tended to that allowed them work they wouldn’t have had, which in turn gave so many families a chance at a better life.

My dad was a man of integrity so the scripture "The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him." Proverbs 20:7 really speak to his legacy.

He was a simple, honest man who worked hard to reach the positions he held in life. He was born either March 7th, 1928 as he really insisted was his real birthday, although records show March 17th, 1929. His persistent lawyer like personality made this a great point of contention every year- he would get very upset if any of us missed wishing him happy birthday on the 7th so it became a long standing joke in our family to not call him on the 7th until he had to call us and remind us it’s his real birthday and why are we forgetting☺

He was born in extreme poverty, malnourished he would always remind us, as to teach us a lesson in why not to ever waste food. He relished in speaking of his hardship growing up with uneducated parents and nine siblings. I believe he spoke of this often to teach us, his children, of the value of working hard to provide for one’s family, to do whatever is needed to fight for an education as he had to. He basically snuck in to school with his older sister when he was 5 year old and had to really behave himself so he can be allowed to simply sit in in those days. He was bullied, much because he was poor and he didn’t have the proper clothes or even shoes to wear to school. Through many years of striving however, my dad eventually reached as far as pre-law school education while working various administrative jobs people took a chance giving him. I believe these contacts and mentors who gave him these initial chances stayed with him long after, as he continued to give chances to so many people when he held positions that allowed him to provide work to many. Eventually, my dad reached the pinnacle of his career holding the position of Chairman of the Internal Arbitration Board and Director of the Naval Station Welfare and Recreation Association at Subic Bay, Olongapo City, in the Philippines.

While he was working in Subic Bay in Olongapo City, he met my beautiful mother Evelyn Norma Neel and in his story he personally typed and gave me, he called her a young and pretty mistiza and that she was. She had only graduated from St Joseph High School, 17 years old and he was 27 but they fell in love and on Nov 12, 1955 started a 40 year life span together that brought about a great beginning for our wonderful family. He was preceded in death by our mom, Evelyn Norma Neel, and survived by our step mom, Julie. There are four of us siblings today, Susan, Ron, Rod and me Sherri and my siblings partners Jerry, Noemi, and Erica, 9 nieces and nephews (Kristeen, Luke, Joy, Katherine, Karleen, Susanne, Scott, Brandon, and Bassil) with children of their own (Rowen, Soleina, Jax) and dad even had furry grandchildren Cooper, Epi and Chili. My dad just met his great grand child Jax last year and Jax brought him immense joy and we are so grateful they had a chance to meet.

I would be amiss and he would be disappointed if I didn’t highlight when he felt he truly came to God. Now I’ll preface it by saying he did not even know a single prayer when he met my mother, who grew up in a very Catholic home. Fast-forward and many call him Santo Tomas for good reason☺ After my birth in 1969, my dad wrote that he was overwhelmed with all the blessings from Almighty God. He decided to join the Cursillo in Christianity, which was the turning point in his life. He became a Lay Minister and Eucharistic Minister in many churches from that time on. He continued involvement in endless number of religious and civic organizations the rest of his life.

Eventually, my dad’s work gave him the opportunity to migrate to the United States, where many of my mom’s family lived. We moved to San Diego, CA on his birthday no less in 1980. My parents were able to eventually buy into the American dream and purchase a home. My dad retired from his last position as Administrative Secretary for the Sheriff of the SD Central Department well pass the age of 70. My dad was not the retiring kind for sure and even when he finally did, he kept himself so active with all kinds of church and varying association and social activities. He loved riding his bike, taking endless walks anywhere really, swimming at the Y, taking the bus and trolley everywhere so it’s safe to say he was more active than any 89-year-old most of us would think of. He embodied the mind, body, spirit healthy lifestyle that is a fad today long before it was. He always had an aloe vera stalk at the ready, drank wheatgrass and ate all kinds of strange fruits and vegetable and lots of fish primarily, again before it was the thing to do. He was well ahead of his time health wise so he enjoyed a full and active life in every way.

My mom unfortunately fell ill for many years and went to heaven in 1995. For the first time in my life, I saw my dad break down and cry at the edge of their bed night after night. He fell into depression and was very downcast until one day; he met my step mom Julie, through her daughter who worked with him at the Sherriff’s office. She was a kind soul, who also took care of her husband after a long illness. They bonded and found great companionship in one another and married and it was wonderful to see him smiling again. She is now too ill to be here today but her love for him is present by all her family in attendance.

There is so much I can say of my earthly father but this scripture by Matthew 25:21 that states “His lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” encapsulates how dutiful my dad was in his faithfulness towards His maker, us his children and family, friends and strangers he befriended at all turns and opportunities he held and took very seriously, to bring people to the Lord. He never missed an opportunity to be a disciple of God and he spoke boldly of his faith to anyone who would listen. He can recite scripture, poetry, speeches like no other being such a bible and history buff and news hound so you didn’t really have a choice but to listen when he got going☺ He was charming as anyone would know. You only had to meet him to fall in love. He didn’t make it hard. He kept it simple and with that smile that can open up any heart and will stay in ours long after this day of celebrating his beautiful life.

So here’s to the beginning of my dad’s story in heaven. I hope he is looking down proud of his legacy, because it is one of love and compassion and grace, as each one of us can only aspire to reach and achieve in this earthly life.

Thank you all for how you touched and intersected my dad and my family’s joys and sorrows too in his time here. We are so grateful for your love and support during this difficult time and we take so much comfort knowing you love Tomas C as much we do! We are so deeply grateful to each of you for all the love and support you are pouring on us his family. ~ In loving remembrance, his daughter Sherri