Tom Heath, 77, of Sarasota, Florida and formerly of Bellefontaine, passed away on Friday, Jan.15, 2021 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
He was born on May 8, 1943 in Elyria, to Ralph Burton Heath and June (Bibb) Heath Haas.
On Feb. 28, 1964, he married Judy Keesey Heath in Adrian, Mich. She survives in Sarasota, Fla.
He is also survived by his daughter, Tracy Heath Berry, his son, Lance and Lisa (Wildermuth) Heath, and grandchildren Shannon Berry, Lyndsay Heath (Massimo Nigri), Luke and Maggie (Wilcoxon) Heath, and great-grandchildren, Viviana, Gabriel, and Violet, all of Sarasota, Fla. A sister, Judy Heath Evans also survives in College Grove, Tenn. A sister-in-law, Kathy Keesey Navarro Norris and brother-in-law John Norris of Redding, Calif., a brother-in-law, Owen Keesey and his wife Linda Keesey of Palmetto, Fla., and a stepbrother, Dick Haas of Indiana also survive.
Tom was preceded in death by his mother, June Haas, his father, Ralph Burton Heath, a grandson, Zachary Sever, a stepfather, Milton Haas, mother-in-law, Annabell Keesey, father-in-law, Owen Keesey, and stepbrother, Ronald Haas.
Tom was a graduate of Bellefontaine High School. He then graduated from the Ohio State School of Cosmetology in Columbus, where he met his wife, Judy.
He worked for the H.K. Porter Company in Bellefontaine for 20 years. Together, with his wife, they owned and operated two beauty salons in Bellefontaine. After moving to Sarasota, Tom managed the Limetree Beach Resort in Sarasota for over 25 years. He owned and operated Resort Properties and was heavily involved with property management until the time of his death. Tom was a licensed real estate broker and a licensed community association manager.
It was a longtime dream of Tom’s to move to Florida. He would often say as he walked the beach at his beloved Limetree “this is what it’s all about”. He lived every day of his life to the fullest and always with a positive attitude. His calm and pleasant demeanor made him a pleasure to be around. He could always see the good in people and gave many a chance, expecting nothing in return. A family friend recently stated, “for a small man, he had such a large impact on so many people’s lives”. Tom was a loving husband, father, and “Poppy” to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a loyal friend to many, some lifelong. To those he leaves behind, the void will be great. However, the memories and the legacy of a life well-lived will be cherished forever.
The Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home in Sarasota, Fla., handled the arrangements. A celebration of his life will be conducted at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 1-800-478-5833.