Thomas Li

Thomas Li was born in Tianjin, China, and lived most of his early years in Shanghai. The second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War uprooted his family, who ultimately ended up in Hong Kong. From there, he emigrated alone to America with a scholarship to Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he entered their engineering program. On a spring break trip to Washington, DC, he visited the University of Maryland College Park, where he was impressed with their engineering facilities. He transferred there and completed his degree in electrical engineering.

Thomas served in the United States Army’s 3rd Army Tank Corp at Fort Knox, and was proud to be part of George Patton’s old unit. He married his college sweetheart, Christine, and they started a family. His engineering career began with Vitro Electronics, and he subsequently helped form Astro Communications Laboratories, where he designed communications equipment for the military. He rose into the ranks of management, becoming a General Manager when it merged with Aiken Industries. In 1973 he co-founded Biotech Research Laboratories. As CEO, he took the company public and led the development of cutting-edge diagnostic products to detect the AIDS virus.

In his retirement, Thomas had many interests. He was a lifelong member of the FF Fraternity’s DC chapter which he had helped to revive in the ‘50s. He travelled extensively with Christine, and organized annual family reunions after her passing. He enjoyed fine dining, and his favorite activities were playing mah-jongg and poker. He set up engineering scholarships at Gannon University and the University of Maryland, where he was especially proud of receiving recognition as a 65-year Golden Terp Engineer in 2022. He enjoyed classical music, opera, and the arts, and donated a significant number of Chinese paintings to the University of Maryland Global Campus to help promote their Art of China curriculum and collection.

Thomas is survived by his children, Deborah (Walter), Kenneth (Glenda), and Pamela (Samuel); five grandchildren: Kathleen, Gabriella, Joseph, Michael, and Juliette; and longtime friend Evelyn Hao. He was preceded in death by his wife Christine and his son Patrick.

A private service will be held. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Montgomery Hospice at https://montgomeryhospice.org/giving/