Tom Likos

A Beautiful Eulogy and Tribute to Mr. Tom Likos, written by Steve Likos.

	Hello my name is Steve Likos and would like to share a few thoughts about my Dad.

	Tomas Albert Likos That was the name emblazoned on the framed document hanging in our Den, telling all he was a Registered Professional Engineer.

	Honey, Dad, GrampaTom, Tom. These were the names used, telling all he was a husband, father, grandfather and friend.

	He was able to balance work, family and play.

	My father was an Electrical Engineer for Westinghouse. He worked his way up starting in the mailroom while a Co-op student at NU, to Senior Engineer, by the time he retired. He cut his teeth on electric motors powering the textile industry. During the war he worked on the design of radar guided Anti Aircraft guns on Navy ships. After the war he worked on drives powering the Pulp and Paper industry where he became the go-to guy for plant upgrades all over New England. He introduced programable controlers to the paper industry. In his spare time he planned conferences for TAPPI, the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. Dad was also active in other areas, including the Petrochemical, Marine and Transportation Industries. He was called upon to commission the electrical equipment for a desulphurization plant at the Bahamas’ Oil Refinery. He designed booster stations for the Oil pipeline between Portland, Maine and Montreal. He designed electrical controls for reverse osmosis to control sweetness in Very Fine apple juice. He was an accomplished engineer.

	My father was civic minded While living in Milton, dad was president of the Youth Council, the Parent Teacher Association and the School Study Committee. He was Committee Chair and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 4. Tom was a member of the Parish Council that helped run St Elizabeth’s while Pastor Curly was ill. He was elected as Town Meeting Member for 26 years. I remember growing up I would go town meeting with dad and watch the operation of town politics. An entire Saturday in the spring would be dedicated to this important town function. It was fascinating to see democracy in action.

	Tom loved to work with his hands. Because of this Dad took his toolbox wherever he went. It was always the first thing in the trunk. He designed and built the addition that became our Milton home for raising four children. He also designed and built the Chatham house. However, there was always at least one unfinished project. The upstairs bathroom in Milton, for example took sixteen years to complete. This is an unfortunate legacy he has passed to his children. I think we all have at least one outstanding project on our houses. He also had his workbench in the basement where you could find everything from the tiniest screw to an electric motor. Saturday mornings you could be sure to find dad tinkering around his workbench. This too is a legacy to my wife’s chagrin.

	Dad loved his family. He was a loving husband and an attentive father. Our family is spread out over fourteen years, so each of his children has a different view of Dad. Dianne remembers summers at Nantasket riding the roller coaster. Tom remembers building the Cape house with him. I remember sailing and skiing. Dave remembers travel to Savannah. Dad always made time for us. There were times he would drive to Millinockit, Maine for work and would make the twelve hour round trip just to be home at night. He said, Sometimes he felt he spent half his life on the Maine Turnpike. We also had an extended family. Dad grew up in South Boston and his father owned Paul’s Men’s Shop. Mom’s family lived in Dorchester. There were holidays with Gramma in the House or Gramma in the Store. Both homes were rich in Lithuanian tradition centered around food, friends and family. When Dianne had her three daughters, he became a loving and attentive grand father.

	Dad enjoyed anything to do with the water. He loved to swim. He would enter the water and would apparently swim off to the horizon and then return with the same unrelenting crawl stroke as he began. We dug clams in Bucks Creek. We fished off the beach. He went on Deep Sea expeditions for Stripers. When we were young, he bought a small motor boat and we explored the waters around Chatham. Day trips to Monomoy, water skiing, flounder fishing, anything to be on the water. Later Dad helped Dianne purchase a DaySailer. He found great joy in being on the sailboat. He was always a willing crew but encouraged me to skipper. This made me the sailor I am today. He especially enjoyed racing and even took Helmsman courses with me at Chatham Yacht Club during the summer. One Thursday we completed the course in capsizing. Later that day at the start of a race, due to a Jam Cleat malfunction, we started to capsize right on the starting line. Dad saw the center board leave the water and went over the side and prevented the boat from turning turtle. It took half an hour to find a motor boat to remove us from the line and Dad was ribbed for doing a demonstration of the technique we had learned that morning. He was unflustered and his confidence showed me you can take control of any situation if you keep your head.

	He was an encouraging father. He used every chance to empower us and help us grow. Whether it was allowing us to drive the motorboat, teaching us to drive or showing us how to build, he gave us the task and expected us to succeed. The fall after I got my learner’s permit, we were headed home from the Cape one weekend when my father offered to have me drive. My father felt I had the experience and despite my mother’s fierce protestations, Dad insisted I get behind the wheel and bring the family home to Milton. I realized that he had put his relationship, his integrity and his Family on the line. I rose to the challenge and brought us home without incident, obviously. It gave me a sense of self-confidence that I carry with me to this day.

	He was a friend. While I was living at home, there was many an evening we sat discussing advances in the sciences spurred by an article he had read in a technical journal, which he read constantly while he watched TV or listened to the news. He treated me with respect and helped me transition from a child to an adult.

	He was a role model. Through example he gave me the tools to maintain a relationship and raise a family. My family is a tribute to his skill.

	Thank you, Dad.

	I want to especially thank my brother Dave and sister Dianne for taking care of dad in his later years. They have given loving care to a man who has given us love his whole life.