March 5, 1934 – February 12, 2021

Tom was born and raised in Wilmington, DE where he attended Archmere Academy and University of Delaware (Fighting Blue Hens) where he earned a BA in History and Social Studies. Upon completion of his degree, he joined the US Navy, became a commissioned Salvage and Diving Officer and a served on the USS Current from 1956-1959.

Following his time in the US Navy, Tom met and married his best friend, Mary Ellen in 1959 and shortly thereafter they started a family. In 1964, Tom earned his Masters in Social Science Education and worked in the Wilmington Public Schools and in 1968 he moved his wife and 6 children on a grand adventure from Wilmington to Indiana in order for Tom to complete his Masters in Economics Education at Purdue University. In 1970 the family (now 7 children) moved to Bloomington, IN for Tom to pursue his Doctorate from Indiana University.

For the family, there was 1 more child and 1 more move in the future. In 1973, Tom was recruited as a teacher and the principal of a high school in Indianapolis. The family of 10 + trusty dog, Pete, moved to their new home in August 1973 to start a new adventure.

After 10 years of school administration, Tom accepted a position with the US Army as a Supervisory Instructional Systems Specialist, but his entrepreneurial spirit was beginning to take hold and he started ASAP Identification in the basement (no, not the HP garage) of his family home while still working for the US Army. In 1994 he moved into an office space in downtown Indianapolis and quit his job at the US Army to pursue ASAP full time. In 2006 he was joined by his daughter, Sheila.

Tom is now retired. He is a prostate cancer and melanoma survivor and now is fighting early dementia. Fortunately for his family, his dementia has left him only with some memory issues but he is still the lovable, happy and optimistic Tommy that we all have gotten to know over the years. He is cared for by his loving wife and his community. While we hope and pray for a cure for this devastating disease, we hold onto all the loving memories that no one can take from us!