Raymond Kun Toung Tom's Obituary
Raymond Kun Toung Tom, 65, passed away on September 7, 2021, at Pali Momi Medical Center, Hawaii while under the care of doctors for Mantle cell lymphoma. He was born in Seoul, Korea, on August 25, 1956, to Lawrence Tai Pew Tom and Nam Soon Tom.
Raymond grew up with his brother, Guy, and sister, Winona, as part of an Army family living at different military bases throughout the U.S. and in Panama. While on the mainland, he wrestled in high school. After moving back to Hawaii, he studied Karate with Guy and learned to play the guitar. He read voraciously. Raymond graduated from Leilehua High School in 1974. While there, he was involved in Student Council, Public Address, the National Honor Society, and the Pacific Asian Affairs Council.
He graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1978, majoring in Biology-Environmental Studies. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, was into photography and martial arts, and served as a photographer for the Waiilaptu yearbook. After taking a one-year break, he went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1980.
Displaying focus, dedication, discipline, motivation, and humor, Raymond served as a Federal Government civil servant for 37 years. He began at Point Magu Naval Station on September 7, 1980. Wishing to return to Hawaii, he obtained a position at the Pacific Missile Test Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai. While on Kauai, he developed an interest in Zumba and became an instructor.
He returned to Oʻahu in the mid-1980s with a position at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command—Pacific Division (NAVFAC PAC DIV). Initially, he was assigned to a work group conducting manpower studies, where he was introduced to personal computers. During these years, PCs were being deployed in businesses and homes. Raymond displayed passionate interest and natural aptitude for learning and using personal computers and software. Using this interest, he earned a position as an IT Specialist in the late 1980s or early 1990s. As an IT Specialist, Raymond witnessed and implemented the Navy’s digital transformation from centralized mainframe computers to networked PCs and from paper-based to digitally-based work processes. His IT work culminated with upgrades to address the Y2K computer crisis.
In the early 2000s, Raymond accepted his final position as a Financial Management and Financial Support (FMFS) Specialist. As an FMFS Specialist, he worked with contracting officers, monitored the completion of contracted work, tracked financial funds and payments, and provided advice and guidance to program managers and staff. Raymond's career included travel throughout the United States and intensive travel throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, Okinawa, Thailand, Korea, Guam, the Philippines, and Singapore. He retired from NAVFAC PAC DIV on January 2, 2018.
In his free time, he loved watching movies, listening to various music genres, building Gundam models, reading comics, and playing video games. He also enjoyed trying different restaurants, spending time with friends, and was practicing the martial art Bagua and learning Mandarin.
Raymond’s death preceded those of his mother, Nam Soon Tom, and father, Lawrence Tom. Raymond is survived by his brother, Guy (Reiko) Tom of Koa Ridge, Hawaii; his sister, Winona (Thomas) Statz of San Diego, California; nephew, Benjamin Statz of San Diego, California; cousins and their families; and best friend, Elliott Oshiro of Mililani, Hawaii, who was like a brother to him.
A private memorial service will be held for close family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support research into Mantle cell lymphoma, such as the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
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