Tom was born in Tennessee, raised in New York, but has called Virginia home since 1992. After his first restaurant job at age 13, he made that his chosen vocation, eventually graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1987. After a 30 career in professional food service, Tom found himself providing vocational training at the community college lever to recent high school graduates with learning disabilities. He has also spoken as a support advocate with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital, after his diagnosis and treatment for esophageal cancer in 2022. Tom joined the Storke team in October 2023 as a mortuary technician and crematory operator at their central care center in King George. When not working, Tom enjoys martial arts, hiking with Kirsten, his wife of 32 years, and the search for the perfect BBQ technique. He shares his home with two cats, a grand-dog, Nino and his son Jameson (a USMC veteran) and his wife, Kathryn.