Thomas “Tom” Painter was many things throughout his life—a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, sports fanatic, musician, movie buff, and devoted fan—but above all else, he was uniquely one of one.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tom was the son of Ralph and Dolores Painter and grew up alongside his sister Darla and brothers Bruce, Jay, and Keith. The toughness, loyalty, work ethic, and sense of humor that would define him throughout his life were forged early and never left him.

Tom loved sports, both playing and watching them. He believed games should be played the right way and wasn’t shy about letting others know when they weren’t. He was an accomplished golfer who spent countless hours on the course and was proud of recording two holes-in-one during his lifetime. Those who golfed with him also knew he never missed an opportunity to offer advice before a shot, often warning, “Don’t hit it in the water over there,” or “Don’t hit it in the hazard.” He was also a passionate fan of the Steelers, Guardians, Cavaliers, and Buckeyes, sticking with them through good seasons and bad.

Tom enjoyed good food and had a few favorite spots he returned to often, including Hartville Kitchen, Hopocan Gardens, Chinese buffets, and the original Angie’s before it changed.

He loved pistachios, and a bag opened around Tom usually didn’t last very long. He also loved Dove Dark Chocolates, and he especially loved ice cream. He had what we call the famous Painter sweet tooth.

He loved movies, especially science fiction and fantasy. Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings were favorites, but he enjoyed everything from Tom Cruise action movies to old Jackie Chan martial arts films. His favorite movie, however, was Field of Dreams. His sense of humor was equally broad. He loved Benny Hill, Mel Brooks, The Three Stooges, In Living Color, Ali G, The Naked Gun, Hot Shots, The Jerk, Tommy Boy, and just about anything that could make him laugh until tears rolled down his face.

Music was another lifelong passion. Tom played guitar and loved bands such as Yes, Rush, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, and Dream Theater. Yet somehow, the same man could also enjoy Taylor Swift, Kesha, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, and the Black Eyed Peas without the slightest concern for what anyone thought about it.

Tom spent many years working for Reiter Dairy, where coworkers affectionately nicknamed him “Homer” after the Simpsons character. He worked hard in the cooler loading milk onto trucks, and took pride in doing his job well as a lifelong Teamster.

He was also an early and lifelong video game enthusiast. Long before gaming became mainstream, Tom was lining up to buy the newest system. From Nintendo to 3DO, PlayStation, Xbox, Halo, Call of Duty, RPGs, and everything in between, he loved gaming and rarely missed a chance to try the latest release.

Those closest to Tom knew he appreciated order. Shoes were lined up perfectly. Things belonged where they belonged. He liked routine, structure, and being on time. In fact, being late simply wasn’t something Tom did.

One of Tom’s greatest joys was being a grandfather to Ava and Drew Painter. He loved them immensely and was incredibly proud of them. He also took his role as a baseball grandpa very seriously and cherished every opportunity to cheer them on and support them.

More than anything, Tom loved his family. He shared a close and loving life with his wife Joan and son Andrew. They remained a tight-knit family throughout his life.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Dolores Painter; his brother, Bruce Painter; his daughter, Megan Painter; and his niece, Tiffany.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Painter; son Andrew (Holley) Painter; grandchildren Ava and Drew Painter; sister Darla (Jeff) Jenkins; brothers Jay (Val) Painter and Keith Painter; nieces and nephews Pam, Stephanie (Steve), Kristel (Matt), Doug, Danny (Suzanne), Billy (Aubrey), and Todd (Cecilia), along with numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Tom Painter was tough, stubborn, funny, loyal, and unforgettable. He loved deeply, laughed loudly, argued passionately, rooted hard for his teams, and never hesitated to share his thoughts. The world is a little quieter without him, but anyone who knew Tom can probably still hear his voice offering advice from the sidelines or around the golf course.

A true 1 of 1 who will be missed forever

Funeral services will be held at the Prentice Funeral Home, 1154 Kenmore Blvd. on Sunday June 7th at 4:00 p.m., officiated by Matt Stone. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Burial will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park on Monday, June 8th at 11:00 a.m.