Charles Thomas 'Tom' Bilheimer, born at the Huntington Hospital on January 23, 1951, passed away on June 21, 2014. A graduate of South Pasadena High School, he was the oldest son of Charles William Bilheimer '40 and Patricia Blumve Bilheimer.

Tom is survived by his wife of 30 years, Linda Bilheimer; children Dawn Milner, Jason Johnson, Kirk Johnson, and Stephen Bilheimer; a brother Ken Bilheimer '72 and his wife Shellie Bilheimer and their two sons. His father, mother, and youngest brother, Stephen '74, predeceased him.

Tom's love of the ocean led him to spend many years surfing Mexican and South American waters. Tom traded his time on the beaches for the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where he met Linda. Tom later returned to South Pasadena to raise his family. Tom spent 26 years in the Caltech Carpenters Shop as leadsman and later supervisor until his retirement in December 2013.

South Pasadena Review, July 17, 2014 

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Tom became my friend in the ninth grade at the Junior High; we stayed close throughout the years and he was best man at my wedding in 1974. Tom left California and moved to Colorado on the western side of the Rockies and lived there for about 10 years. Also, he met his wife Linda, there. He truly loved Colorado but they eventually moved back to South Pasadena and then to Altadena.

His son Steven was born in 1984. I have too many memories and stories to tell that I could almost write a book. Some of our high school surfing trips to Ensenada, Mexico are etched in my brain and with those who traveled with us. Anytime we got together we always had fun. I surely miss my good friend!

Richard Polacco '69