Obituary of Thomas Ross Pinckney

Tom, our beloved “Big Pink” was born 10/16/1950 and was a lifelong resident of Tacoma. He passed away 12/15/2014 after a long battle with ALS. Tom never gave up hope for a cure or that he might just somehow beat this very ugly disease. Tom attended Grant Elementary K-2, then Lowell Elementary, Jason Lee Junior High and Stadium High School. He graduated from Washington State University with a degree in business. After working in the electrical wholesaling business for several years, Tom went on to manage his own rental units and loved working on them. Though it was hard to find anything in his work van if you were not Tom, he never tired of the many rental “Mr. Fixit” projects and many became good story telling material later on. Tom’s greatest gifts were his twinkling eyes, ready smile and easy laugh. He so enjoyed everyone he came in contact with and called so many his friends. Any reason to get together with those he came to know gave him immeasurable pleasure. Tom’s friends included those from his childhood through college, people he worked with and contracted with, the people in Victor and those he met through other friends. Thank you to all that were a part of his life. Tom’s passing leaves such a big hole in our hearts. Special acknowledgement needs to be extended to the ALS association for their support, Group Health Hospice who helped us figure out the journey, his caregivers from Sound Options who became part of his group of friends, the support of Cardiac Study Center of Marilyn’s oft changing work schedule, and of course the “guys” who never once said “no” to a request for assistance, who took over Tom’s many responsibilities over an extended period of time and always made time for get togethers and visits. You are all Tom’s heroes. Tom is survived by wife, Marilyn, siblings William (Laurie) Pinckney, Anne (Gordon) Zeugner, and Susan (Marvin) Sandberg and numerous close friends. In lieu of flowers, please support the ALS association, Evergreen Chapter by going to info@alsa-ec.org or your local Hospice association for the work that they do. Memorial Service to be held at Tacoma Yacht Club, 5401 N Waterfront Dr, Tacoma, WA 98407 on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 2:00 pm. If you have a favorite picture of Tom that you want to share with everyone, please bring it and we will post it on a board. Directions to Tacoma Yacht Club: From Interstate 5 South 1. Take exit 132 for S 38th St 2. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Washington 16 W/Gig Harbor/Bremerton 3. Keep left to continue on WA-16 W 4. Take exit 3 for 6th Ave toward WA-163 N/Ruston 5. Straight onto Bantz Blvd. 6. Take the 1st right onto N Pearl St 7. Take right onto 51st 8. Drive down the hill to the large roundabout 9. At the roundabout take a left, toward the water onto Yacht Club Road 10. Follow to gate Destination will be on the left 5401 N Waterfront Dr Tacoma, WA 98407 From Interstate 5 North 1. Take exit 132B for Washington 16 W toward Bremerton 2. Keep left to continue on WA-16 W 3. Take exit 3 for 6th Ave toward WA-163 N/Ruston 4. Straight onto Bantz Blvd. 5. Take the 1st right onto N Pearl St 6. Take right onto 51st 7. Drive down the hill to the large roundabout 8. At the roundabout take a left, toward the water onto Yacht Club Road 9. Follow to gate Destination will be on the left 5401 N Waterfront Dr Tacoma, WA 98407 From Downtown Tacoma 1. Go North on Pacific Ave 2. Continue onto Schuster Pkwy 3. Slight left to stay on Schuster Pkwy 4. Continue onto Ruston Way 5. At the 1st traffic circle, continue straight to stay on Ruston Way 6. At the 2nd traffic circle, turn right, toward the water onto Yacht Club Road 7. Follow to gate Destination will be on the left 5401 N Waterfront Dr Tacoma, WA 98407 From Gig Harbor 1. Head East on WA-16 toward Tacoma (Partial toll road) 2. Take exit 3 for WA-163 N/Pearl St toward Ruston 3. Turn right onto WA-163 N/S Pearl St (signs for Ruston/Point Defiance/Vashon Ferry) 4. Take right onto 51st 5. Drive down the hill to the large roundabout 6. At the roundabout take a left, toward the water onto Yacht Club Road 7. Follow to gate Destination will be on the left 5401 N Waterfront Dr Tacoma, WA 98407