Tom passed away peacefully on the morning of July 5, 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Tom was born on November 11, 1941, and grew up in Stockton, CA. After a tour in the US Army, where he was trained as a dental technician, he returned to Stockton for a degree in Chemistry from the University of the Pacific. He went on to graduate with honors in 1971 from UOP School of Dentistry in San Francisco, where he met many life-long friends, including Dr. Robert Chan and Dr. Rob Burwell.
Soon after graduating from Dental School, Tom joined a group practice in Modesto, CA, where he met the loves of his life, Shari and her two children, Chris and Kim. It wasn't long before Tom and Shari were married and began a loving relationship that lasted over 43 years.
In 1974, they moved to Fresno, where Tom opened a private practice. Tom truly loved dentistry and his private practice. His compassion, integrity, sense of humor and gentle nature created a sense of trust and comfort for his patients that fostered long-term friendships and generations of new patients. His staff worked for him for a combined total of 60 years and included Betty Patterson, Julie Elliott, Lynn Johnson and Leann Bennett. Together with Tom, they created a family environment, where patients felt welcome and special.
Tom had many interests over the years. He was a private pilot, a master-class swimmer and a historian. His knowledge of the Civil War and World War II led to trips to battle grounds and memorials where he would be the tour guide for family and friends. Perfect strangers who just happened to overhear him speaking would join the group! Tom's love of golf was known to all and he spent many a happy Saturday, playing with his friends, Nate and Cheryl Falkner, Bob Harris, and Danny Shamoon.
He loved to travel, and with his wife Shari, they visited many locations in the US, England, Wales and Scotland, Italy, China, Amsterdam, Belgium, and France. His favorite trip was to Normandy to explore the sites of the D-Day invasion, for his 70th birthday with Shari and long-time friends Robert Chan and Kip Said. On June 17, 2014, Shari and close friends, Lou and Marie DeLarios, took Tom to see Seattle, Victoria, Calgary, Lake Louise and Banff, which was on his "bucket list." Although he was very ill at the time, he really enjoyed the trip and the beauty of the Canadian Rockies,
Tom is survived by his loving wife Shari; son Dr. Chris Heiny and his wife Pam and their children, Cheyne and Bryan; daughter, Kim Wells and her husband Mike Wells and their children, Madison and Caton; and Tom's sister, Pat Guntert of Stockton.
The Family wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Michael Dayton, Dr. Thomas Hackett and the dozens of friends and former patients who have supported Tom through his illness.
A Celebration of Life Reception will be held at Copper River Country Club on Friday, July 25, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. Please come and share your memories of Tom with his family and friends.