Joe Piro, Tom, and myself at Hennessey’s bar in Carlsbad, Ca.  , around 2018 ? just after Tom retired.  Tom was always saying “Come on, we gotta all get together when we’re off shift and go watch Joey play the drums in his band and have a few beers, tell a few more stories.  I’m retired now, so I’m always off shift !  Let’s make it happen !”    Joe called me up, told me where he was playing and where we were gonna meet up with Tom and Mel….and we made it happen !  I’m forever grateful that we did.  Love you Tommy, see you on the other side.  R.I.P. brother.  God Bless you Mel, we are praying for you and the whole family.  -  Mike White 

I said goodbye to you yesterday Pops.. Wow, you are loved!! Finally got to put some faces to all of these names you have talked about through the years, that was really cool.. They shared so many wonderful stories about you… ( they kept them “G” rated) lol… Mel did you JUSTICE!!! She really went all out! You would blush! But, you are so worth it! She did good! 
I miss you dad…. It hurts…I didn’t think missing somebody so much could hurt so much… You always made everything better dad…. You always new what advice to give me…There isn’t a dad in the world who could give the most perfect hug like you could… I still hear your laugh… I will meet up with you again dad…. And we will have coffee, and talk about the Broncos, and our dogs… I miss you daddy…Until I see you again, I WILL REMEMBER FOR YOU… Love, Shell 

We were at a concert in August 2018 in Toledo!  We had such a great time! 

It was a chilly day, but we really enjoyed the day.  

Ice cream, ice cream, and more ice cream!!!🙌❤️

Hello. I am Ken Ruswinkle I worked as a Paramedic with Tom back in the days of Howard Ambulance/Lifecare Ambulance. We worked together in Yucaipa, Banning and Beaumont. I am sorry to hear of Tom's passing. Tom is such a great guy and I loved being around him. When we first met we quickly made a connection as our personalities just clicked. We also grew up and lived in the same area of Ohio. I am from Maumee. It has been years since we have seen each other. Going our separate ways. I moved to the Bay Area and worked in Oakland and Tom had moved back to Toledo then back to Southern California. I have thought of Tom over the years especially when thinking of EMS and the calls we would run together (in this profession things never leave you). Most important he is such a great person and you always felt good being around him. Until we meet 
again my friend. 

Both of us worked with Tom over the years.  He was a great medic and most importantly, a friend.  He always had a smile for you regardless of the situation.  He definitely made a positive impact on Riverside County EMS.  RIP Tom.  You will definitely be missed.



I don’t know why, but the memory that popped in my head when I heard about Tom’s passing is the time he let Matt and I take the boat out on the lake by ourselves,  or maybe we just took it on our own? I don’t know… But what I do know is that we drove it over a shallow sand bar with the kind of confidence I haven’t experienced since those teenage years. Obviously that confidence was misplace, and we shredded the propeller. Matt was  freaking out! So, clearly the only reasonable course of action for us was to simply pretend nothing had happened and hope Tom didn’t notice, and, in the event he did happen to notice, try to play it off like that severe damage must have come from somewhere else. Yeah… he wasn’t falling for that! That was probably the first and last time we took the boat out on our own.

We haven’t had the chance to talk a much in too many years, but this news was truly devastating to me nonetheless. Your entire family were a staple of my childhood. Your home was my home away from home, and Tom was as much a father figure in my life at that time as anyone else, as the boat story illustrates. He was a positive presence in the lives of all of us. I’m so sorry he’s gone. Please reach out to me if you need anything at all! Or even if you don’t need anything!

Tom and I ran the craziest calls at 17's  He is one of the most likable people on the Planet.  We shared stories that were priceless. Tom is one of the kindest gentlemen I have ever had the privilege of knowing.  Being a Paramedic was The Perfect Profession ForTom. I will miss you.  I know God has lot's for you to do up there. Till we meet again. Gods Speed My Friend.  


                                                      Chris Leon

Tom will be truly missed his love for people was powerful always welcoming and willing to defend his family at all cost always willing to be there when you needed him. Hey loved going to laughlin and taking that boat out and had no problem launching anyone on a tube. He may have broke Jerry's spleen and gave Dylan a concussion  but they asked for it . Jk. We will miss you Tom and all the loving memories will forever be with us all God bless you and this family 

Had the pleasure of working with Tom in the banning /Beaumont pass. He was a great guy and a solid medic. He was noticeably missed when he left. Rest easy Tom 

OBITUARY

Thomas Ronald Richardson

24 July, 1953 – 11 December, 2022

Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary

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