Thomas John Bermingham

Thomas John Bermingham was born on Christmas day in 1915 in Chicago, son of Lillian Marguerite Doyle Bermingham Anderson and stepson of John George Anderson. Tom graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1942. Just as the United States entered World War II, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was Commissioned an Ensign. He was selected to enter the ground-breaking field of radar technology. Tom received advanced electrical engineering training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Bowdoin College and served as the senior radar maintenance officer for the Panama Canal Zone, overseeing all radar maintenance activities for ships transiting the canal. As a recognized expert, he assisted with the design and testing of the electronic radar equipment used at Bikini Atoll nuclear bomb testing. Tom’s stories of his World War II adventures in Panama amazed and entertained his children and grandchildren throughout his life. Following his service in the Navy, Tom joined the sales force of Otis Elevator Company in Atlanta, GA. He fell in love with his wife Jean on a blind date, and they married and moved to Greensboro, NC, where all three of their children—Ellen, Nancy, and John—were born. Tom’s career with Otis Elevator Company spanned 40 years. He transferred to Miami, FL as Sales Manager, where he served as District Manager for South Florida for close to 30 years. Tom was an active member of the Rotary Club of Miami, Dade County Chamber of Commerce, South Florida Code Activity Board, and the Association of General Contractors. He also served as a Deacon at Riviera Presbyterian Church. A nationally recognized expert in elevator technology, Tom launched a highly successful consulting business after he retired from Otis in 1982. For the next ten years he served as consultant and Chief Engineer and Construction Manager for Gunderlin, Ltd. in Miami. Tom and Jean retired to Tallahassee, FL in 1991 where he continued consulting and attended the Osher Lifelong Learning Center of The Florida State University. Tom enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and fishing in south Florida and remained devoted to his family and friends throughout his life. Tom was predeceased by his wife Jean, sister Lillian, and his father and mother. Survivors include Ellen and Ken Prest, and their children Matthew and Meredith, of Pensacola, FL; Nancy and Jim Donbavand, their children Lisa Phillips, Jamie, Thomas, and Peter, and five great grandchildren, of San Antonio, TX; and John and Libby Bermingham, and their children, Ryan, Brent, and Justin of Newnan, GA. In lieu of flowers, please mix yourself a good scotch and water; sit down with some cheese and crackers for a couple of minutes, and send Tom a kind thought. He'd like that. The memorial service will be Tuesday, Feb 1, 2011 at 7:00 pm at Newnan Presbyterian Church with Dr. Harry Barrow officiating. McKoon Funeral Home (770) 253-4580

Thomas John Bermingham

December 25, 1915 - January 28, 2011