Thomas Joseph Buchheit

Thomas Joseph Buchheit departed this life on August 2, 2024, at the age of 78. Ever the math, language, and music lover, he was still enjoying all of these things right up to the end, in spite of the pain he was in.

Tom grew up in Dallas, Texas, graduating from Dallas Jesuit High School, attending Rice University, and graduating from the University of Houston. He began working as a Geophysicist, and soon met his future wife, Janet. After a few years living abroad, they settled down in the Houston Heights to raise their family.

He was truly a study in contrasts, as comfortable on a camping trip as he was attending the symphony, and perfectly content to stay home with a good book, catch an Astros game, or go to a good concert. His love of learning and curiosity was infectious, his love for his wife and family knew no limits.

Tom leaves behind his wife, Janet, son, Tommy, daughter, Jessica, son in law, Mike, and grandson Jett. He is also survived by his brother, Bob, sister-in-law Nancy, Ken Buchheit and his family, Michelle Buchheit, along with many nieces and nephews.

Tom is predeceased by his parents, Robert and Clara Buchheit, sister and brother-in-law Elise and John Newell, nephew Mike Newell, sister Barbara Buchheit, Junell and Victor Strakos, Sr., sister-in-law Cathy Hajek and brother-in-law Victor Strakos, Jr.

He will be missed greatly and remembered with affection by Janet’s family: sisters Barbara Gates, Cindy Steffek, Marie Tobola, and their families, and the surviving families of Cathy Hajek.

His family has many fond memories, too many to recount, so here are just a few:

Janet remembers how Tom took her on her first ever airplane ride, a trip to San Francisco on their honeymoon after their marriage on September 21, 1974. One month later they would move to England, travel all over Europe, and even take a trip to Singapore. Tom would bring Janet tulips from Amsterdam when he traveled there for business. He continued the flower tradition for the entirety of their life together, still managing to have flowers sent to her on Mother’s Day, although he was hospitalized.

Jessica loves to talk about her visit to the UK with her dad, which included trips to Brighton Beach, the London Museum, an amazing trek to Paris (on the day of France’s Bicentennial, no less), and, of course, obligatory trips to Harrods, Hamleys, and the theatre!

Tommy recalls all of the best things that make a dad a dad...playing catch in the backyard, fishing trips and the annual Struss Bass tournament, Tom attending as many of Tommy’s sporting events as possible, working on the 1968 Mustang together, and, of course the requisite terrible, terrible dad jokes that Tommy had no idea he would learn to love.

Grandson Jett says that they shared a deep love for and understanding of math together. The greatest gift that Jett ever received was Tom’s textbook of mathematical tables; on the inside of the book, Tom had crossed out his last name, and written Jett’s; the book is unequivocally cherished by Jett.

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to the Heights Boulevard Beautification Project at www.houstonheights.org in memory of Tom.