Richard Thomas Curran

Richard Thomas "Tom" Curran passed away peacefully after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease at his home in Sacramento, CA on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at the age of 83. Tom was loved and admired by his family, friends and business associates. He will be remembered as a man of many talents. He was a successful business owner who loved to play the classical guitar, piano and drums. Tom was also a private pilot, car racing enthusiast, photographer, scuba diver, boating and motorcycle enthusiast who loved to paint and sketch.

Above all, Tom was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a loyal and ethical businessman who was dedicated to his profession and the success of his clients. He was known to many as the "silver fox" for his perfectly coiffed gray hair but he preferred to be called "Bappa" or "Bappi" as he was affectionately known to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Tom was born on October 16, 1933, in Lorain, Ohio to Richard Thomas, Sr. and Catherine (Cloughessy) Curran. He had four older sisters (Geraldine, Mary Ellen, Kathleen and Richarda) and one younger brother, Jim.

In 1952, Tom graduated from St. Mary High School in Lorain, OH. In 1954, after working at the Lorain Journal and the Lorain steel plant he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Marilu Laven. That same year, he joined the U.S. Army where he became a member of the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1956, Tom began his advertising career and his family with the birth of the first of his five children. He earned an Art degree from the Cooper School of Art and later finished his formal education with a degree in mathematics from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Tom worked for advertising agencies in Cleveland, OH and Elmira, NY before he moved his growing family to Sacramento in 1962 to continue his career. In 1968, Tom partnered with Ron Hitomi and together they opened Curran, Hitomi and Associates which would eventually become one of Northern California's largest and most successful advertising, marketing and public relations agencies.

Tom retired in 1998. He and Marilu then moved to West Palm Beach, FL where Tom got a retirement gig as a bridge tender on the intercostal waterway. He said the job allowed him to combine three of his passions: he rode his motorcycle to work, opened the bridge for his beloved boats, and practiced playing his classical guitar between bridge openings. After getting their fill of the "Sunshine State," Tom and Marilu returned to Sacramento in 2005, to be close to their children and grandchildren.

Tom will forever be remembered for his love of family, his professional acumen, and his passion for his hobbies - passion which would lead him to pursue his hobbies with unbridled enthusiasm. A passion which would lead him to "sound-proof" an extra bedroom in the house to allow him to practice the drums without disturbing the rest of the family; or his love of racing which would lead him to painting and rebuilding a 1959 Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite in his garage; his love of flying which led him to rebuilding, recovering, and painting a Citrabria airplane in his living room and garage; or his love of boating, scuba diving and photography which led him to berthing his boat in the Monterey Bay Marina so he could scuba dive and take underwater photographs of the marine life in the nearby national marine sanctuary.

Tom is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marilu; his daughters: Colleen, Maureen (Marc Turtletaub), Megan and Erin (Tim Lemons III) ; and his son: Tim (Jo). Grandchildren: Tara (Justin Ingram) and Brandon Borja (Jen Boothby); Nicole (Mario Arroyo) and Devin Curran (Tracy Fisher); and Timothy Foley (Kate Betuel)). Great grandchildren: Taylor and Bobby Ingram. Tom is also survived by his brother Jim.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Raphael Garden, 9200 Fair Oaks Blvd, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 are appreciated.

Please join the family in a Celebration of Life to be held Sunday, May 28, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at the Jesuit High School Chapel 4660 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael, CA 95608.

Arrangements under the direction of Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, Sacramento, CA.