Tommy Eddie Thompson

Tommy “Tom” Eddie Thompson was a loving & caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother & friend. He passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on January 12, 2024 at the age of 78.

He was born on October 30, 1945, in the village of Leloaloa, American Samoa to Eddie and Palagi (Pita) Thompson. He loved to dance and was known for his fire dancing. Tom had been selected out of a class of 500 students to become part of a dance group to travel to the New York World’s Fair and Washington D.C. in 1965, an achievement he was proud to recount stories of. After graduating high school, he worked as a customs agent checking the ships coming into the Pago Pago Harbor. A year later he would leave for Hawaii, but with the help of his older brother Jones, Tom made it to the next big island of San Francisco, CA. In 1968 he met the love of his life, Malaya Ofisa (Asoau), and they married on June 29th. Together they had 5 children; Alexander, Isabelle, Eddie, Thomas, and Irene, and they would spend the next 55 years living in the Bay Area.

Tom worked for Glidden paint company for 32 years as a manager in the printing department where he retired. He later re-entered the workforce as a US postal worker but was recruited by Scherwin-Williams which brought him back into the paint industry where he would work for another 10 years and retire for the 2nd and final time. His hobbies were horse racing, bingo and bowling. He was an avid Bay Area sports fan, most notably holding a special fondness for the SF Giants and 49ers.

Tom was a man of faith and served in the church until his deteriorating health wouldn’t permit him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the pulpit any longer. He became a deacon and then a lay minister for the First Samoan Congregational Church of Jesus Christ in Daly City, CA where he would serve until he joined the sister church, Satauro O Keriso, in Hayward, CA under the stewardship of his brother-in-law, Reverend Lautivania Asoau.

Tom is survived by his children, Alexander, Isabelle (Fuamaimauga*), Eddie (Leandra), Thomas (Tiffany), Irene (John);  grandchildren Meleia (Kevin), Alonna, Aleena, Jessica (Joel), Isabelle, Eddie, Ciara, Fua (Aileen), Fa’apisa, Alexander, Isis (Josue), Fei, Iva, Ian, Alexis; great-grandchildren Jericho, Joseph, Martin, Malaya, Tiana, Evelyn, Noah, Bonifacia, Miriama, Elijah, Sonny, Isaiah, Ioane; Brothers Eddie, Gabriel, Lawrence; Sisters Tillie & Lynn and numerous nieces & nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Palagi Thompson, Eddie & Johanna Thompson, his wife Malaya, his brother Jones, his son-in-law Fuamaimauga and his great-grandsons Aston & Kevin Jr.

Tom’s services & burial will be held on Monday, January 29th. Olivet Garden Chapel, 1651 Hillside Blvd., Colma, CA.