Thomas (Tommy) Jens Christiansen, Jr. passed away November 9, 2020 in Dallas, TX after courageously battling metastatic melanoma. He was surrounded by his adoring wife and children. The oldest son of Thomas and Ruth Christiansen, Tommy was born on September 28, 1959 in Midland, Michigan. His family moved to Cherry Hill, NJ before settling in Dallas, TX where Tommy graduated from Bryan Adams High School. After graduation, he attended the University of Texas and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
As a young boy, Tommy developed a love of aviation and asked his parents for flying lessons. By this time, Thomas and Ruth had seven children so providing flight lessons would have been a challenge. Not to be discouraged, Tommy used his strong will and determination to put himself through flight training and become a professional pilot. As a highly-respected aviator, Tommy had more than 35 years of flying experience. He proudly worked for TLC Air, Jet East, and American Airlines where he spent the past 29 years flying both internationally and domestically. His longtime career with American allowed him to travel the world and take his family on amazing adventures. Tommy’s love of aviation is shared by his children, both of whom he was immensely proud: Anna enjoys a career with a commercial airline, and Matthew is a professional pilot.
Tommy had a strong sense of family, and nothing pleased him more than to open his home for family events, holidays, and celebrations. His children as well as numerous nieces and nephews have a lifetime of memories celebrating birthdays, school parties, weddings, and more at Uncle Tommy’s place. After family, his next love was the outdoors. Tommy was an avid hunter and considered the deer lease his “happy place.” He took pride in managing the deer lease not only for himself but for all the members to have a place to get away and share his love of nature. A man of the highest character and strongest work ethic, Tommy was truly one of the good guys.
A beloved friend of many, Tommy will be deeply missed by those who were fortunate enough to have their lives touched by him. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Eric. He is survived by his loving wife, Elise Silverfield May and their devoted children Anna Sterling Christiansen and Matthew Jayson May as well as his admiring grandson, Liam Thomas Christiansen. Also cherishing his memory are Tommy’s caring sisters Mary Sue (Bob) Gaston, Cathleen (Jerry) Shipley, Julia (Bill) Hebding, Sarah (Scott) Elkins, Ellen (Jerry) Franks, mother-in-law Nora Silverfield, brother-in-law Martin Silverfield, sister-in-law Debbie (Sid) Scheinberg, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
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