Thomas E. Blum

Thomas “Tom or Tommy” Blum passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on Friday, February 28, 2025 surrounded by family in Orlando, FL.

Tom was born in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI on November 9, 1940 to loving parents Erwin (Ernie) Blum and Roberta Gillies. As a boy, he was an alter boy for the Catholic Church as well as delivered newspapers on his bicycle for the local paper. He attended St. Paul’s Catholic High School, and then the University of Detroit (where he participated in ROTC) earning a Bachelor in Aeronautical Engineering with a Minor in Math and Physics. Tom entered the Army in 1964 as a Second Lieutenant rising in rank to a First Lieutenant before ending active duty in 1969. After leaving the Army, he went on to also earn an MBA from Western Illinois University.

Tom held his first corporate position at Martin Marietta in Denver, Colorado where he worked on the development of the Titan Missile. After that, he worked for Federal Mogul Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, but transferred to the Macomb, Illinois office in 1970 where he met his future wife, Janet Eppley. They moved to Florida in the 1970’s where he worked for SEDCO, a plastic manufacturing company, overseeing plants in Auburndale and Melbourne FL, as well as Austin, Texas. After five years, Tom left the corporate world to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams opening his own business called TEBCO in Winter Haven, FL. He successfully worked in his shop for over 25 years rebuilding starters and alternators until his retirement around 2006 at the age of 64.

Throughout his life, Tom lived life to the fullest. He was a journeyman, a never-satisfied seeker of adventure. He loved the outdoors and he loved Bob Dylan. There was nothing he couldn’t fix or build, and always lent a helping hand. Tom was also a marathon runner, on a bowling league, a motorcycle enthusiast, an avid cyclist, a traveler spending many summers in Mexico, and an avid hiker, affectionately known as “Grinder”, and a camper. He ran the Gasparilla Distance Classic marathon in Tampa, FL and the Citrus Classic many times, and in his 70’s he hiked the entire Appalachian Trail over the course of eight years totaling 2,179.4 miles covering 14 states.

Tom was handsome, smart, a hard worker, but most importantly had a kind heart. He knew what mattered most was on the inside and had many friends and never really met a stranger. But beyond friends, he loved his three daughters, Claudia, Jenny and Andy and two granddaughters Everly and Frankie Lee more than anything. They affectionately called him “PaPa”.

After retirement, Tom continued to enjoy life’s simple pleasures of going to the beach with his family, out to eat (his treat) and cheering on their accomplishments while sharing his zanny life wisdom from “you can call me late, but just don’t call me late for breakfast”, “miles of smiles” and “the only two things you have to do in life is pay taxes and die when your time comes.”

In late 2022, Tom moved to Orlando to live with his family. Being surrounded by their love and his grandchildren brought him great joy. As of July 2024, Tom lived at Hearthstone Lake Nona where he made quite the impression from his humor to his full head of hair, his attitude “the look” and late night chats with staff.

Tom is survived by his three daughters: Claudia Blum (husband, Randy Dease; granddaughters Everly and Frankie Lee Dease), Jennifer Blum (husband, Bryan Zuckerman), and Andy Blum (wife, Deak Evgenikos); and his former spouse, Janet Addair. He is also survived by his extended family niece Anne L. Knightly, Nancy Knightly and their kids Erin C. Busk, Jacob T. Busk, Ryan T. Knightly, Dana M. Knightly. And, preceded in death by his parents Erwin (Ernie) Blum and Roberta Gillies, sister Gail Knightly and nephew Sean Thomas Knightly.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, April 25th, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, FL 33853. Guests are allowed admission into the Gardens anytime that day. It's important to let the guard gate know they’re there to “attend the Celebration of Life for Tom Blum”, and they will be admitted.