Sylvester Thomas Conlan, Jr.

Sylvester Thomas Conlan was the patriarch of the boisterous Conlan Clan. Tom was a smart, hardworking, self-made man. He was born in Portland, Oregon on New Years Eve 1923, the third child, and only son, of S.T. and Bess Conlan. Toms charmed childhood ended abruptly at age 12, when his mother died. His extended family provided the extra support to help him get on his feet after this tragedy, and he paid the favor forward to countless others during his long life. Toms college years at Stanford (Phi Delta Theta) were interrupted by WWII. He served in the Army Air Corps (Intelligence) in the Pacific theater. After his honorable discharge, Tom returned to Stanford and married his dream girl, Wilda Leonard who was cautioned by her father not to marry the Catholic Tom, as she would end up with six children. Tom and Wilda shared sixty years, eight children, twenty-one grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren together. They created and nurtured the Conlan Clan, celebrating every holiday and birthday together. Tom worked for Burroughs Corporation for over 30 years, where each promotion for the company executive meant a transfer. He and Wilda moved their growing brood from the west coast to the east coast, and back again. After retiring from Burroughs, the entrepreneur started his own computer company, Distributed Technologies Inc., which kept him on the cutting edge of technology until he sailed into real retirement. Tom and Wilda traveled the world together until Wildas illness struck. Her passing broke his heart. The Conlan patriarch recovered with the help of his kids, and in particular, his daughters Teri and Laurel, who became his live-in companions/nurses at his home in Mill Creek. Though infirm physically, his mind remained sharp, his humor spot-on, and he could hold court unlike any other. He ventured to Mazatlan and cruised Alaska with his kids, enjoying it all. The WWII vet died on Pearl Harbor Day 2013. Tom left behind his children: Mike, Teri Moran, Laurel OLeary, Mark, Barbara Rice, Charmaine Colt, Joanne Earle and Janet Mulvanny. He was preceded in death by Wilda, his parents, his sisters Ruth and Betty, and his grandsons Matt and Sayre. In lieu of flowers, please send remembrances to the USO at href=http://www.uso.org/ http://www.uso.org/ Announcement: In lieu of flowers, please send remembrances to the USO at href=http://www.uso.org/ http://www.uso.org/