Thomas Robert Modafferi

Thomas Robert (Tom) Modafferi of Edmonds, WA, died from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. He was born in 1940 in Englewood, New Jersey. His parents were Frank and Myrtle Modafferi. At the age of 15, Tom, his parents, and his brother Ron moved to Millbrae, CA. Tom graduated from Occidental College in 1962, and received an M.D. from UCLA Medical School. He was married to Dorothy, who he met at Occidental College, on January 26, 1963. He completed his internship and first year of residency in General Surgery at Boston University Hospital. Tom served as a Captain in Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, for two years from 1968-70. He finished his residency at UCSD, where he completed the remaining five years.The family moved to Vista, CA, where they lived for the next 21 years, and where Tom was a Board Certified General and Vascular Surgeon, at Tri-City Hospital in Oceanside, CA, and also served as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff. When he retired, he and Dorothy moved to Hope, ID to live in a rural area, have changes of seasons, travel, and where Tom enjoyed the outdoor experiences available there of skiing, hiking, kayaking, bicycling, golf, and was even a volunteer fireman. Curious about other cultures, countries, habitats, and wildlife, they have traveled to all the continents and to countless countries. Always wanting to learn, Tom was an avid reader. During his last weeks, he was studying Astronomy on Great Courses DVDs. Interested in photography, he took great photos, especially of animals on their many adventure trips, sunsets, and grandchildren. Becoming grandparents of seven wonde grandchildren, they made sure to make many visits to see them growing up and enjoyed many vacations with them.Tom is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of Edmonds, WA; brother Ron (Marilyn) of Truckee, CA; his daughter Karen Browning and her husband, John H. and grandchildren Morgan and Thomas of Mattapoisett, MA; son Michael of Hermosa Beach, CA; son David of Tucson, AZ, and grandsons West Sebastian of Carlsbad, CA; son Edward and his wife, Megan Igo, of Merced, CA, and grandchildren Evelyn, Timothy, and Amelia. Announcement: In lieu of flowers, the family hopes you will consider donations to ALS for research to find a cause and cure for ALS or to your local Hospice group. ALS Evergreen Chapter is webwa.alsa.org/site Evergreen Hospice is www.evergreenhealthcare.org/hospice