Lasting Memories
Thomas Lawrence
Dec. 20, 1933-Aug. 21, 2015
Mountain View, California
Surrounded by family, he passed on Aug. 21, 2015, aged 81. A resident of Mountain View, CA, and London, England, he was born in Grand Rapids, MI, to George H. and Ethyl M. Lawrence. He attended Ottowa Hills High School in Grand Rapids and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in electrical engineering.
Moving his family to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1959, he worked at Lockheed, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and RCA. He went on to pioneer and serve as the general manager of the European subsidiaries for Intel Corporation, Apple Computer and others. In 1988, he founded TJL Inc. which assisted many great companies to enter the European market.
After retiring he went on to write a trilogy of novels based on his personal knowledge and experience in the high-tech industry. Having known many of the era-defining people, he drew heavily on his personal experience in bringing this world to his readers.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brothers, Gordon and Robert. He is survived by his wife, Gillian Lawrence; sister, Betty (Terry) Obenauf; daughter, Darragh; sons, Kevin (Tricia), Jeffrey (Alicia) and Kirk; eight grandchildren; one great-grandson, five nieces and three nephews. A friend and mentor to a great many, he will be missed by all.
Aug. 12, 2020
Tom was my bosses boss in Intel Europe. We were a tight knit group charged with expanding intel's business as it innovated technology and changed the world. Tom was a wonderful leader and the most competent and knowledgeable general manager I ever knew (and I got to know some great ones). But it was not just the business side of Tom that I got to value... he was such a terrific guy.. he was so much fun to know. Tom was a great skier... he even interrupted his career to spend some years as a ski instructor. As head of the European operation of intel Tom made it a point that we hold our technical and sales training sessions at Europe's most prestigious ski resorts. Hard work in meeetings at night, fun on the slopes in the day. I became an addicted skier under Tom's brilliant "fun policy". I became a better manager too, when I copied to the best of my ability Tom's management style when I formed my own company. Thank's Tom for everything.
Aug. 28, 2015
I met Tom many years ago in Brussels and Paris. He was an extra-ordinary man. Great sense of humor, very hard worker...one of a kind. I have good memories of the time spent in Europe with him with Bea, his wife at the time and one of my best friends since a long time...I got to know Kevin and some of his family through several phone calls to the US...Time went by but memories are still there. I wish Tom and all who loved him peace and joy as I think he would like this for those who love him...You all have my deepest sympathy, Ginou