Thomas Erskine Armstrong

After 80 wonderful years, Tom passed away peacefully, surrounded by immediate family on January 16th, 2018. We are thankful that Tom had the time to reminisce on wonderful times and say his goodbyes with friends and family before passing.

Tom was born in Gainesville, Texas on 4/16/1937 to Max Erskine and Margaret Merrill Armstrong. The family lived in Marietta Oklahoma where he grew up with his sister Maxine. Tom attended school in Marietta where in high school he lettered in football, basketball, track, band and choir. Tom always knew how to be involved.

In 1955, Tom enrolled at Southern Methodist University with his eyes set on a degree in Engineering. While at SMU, Tom joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and met his future wife, Susan Downs. Susan and Tom dated all through college and eventually wed on June 11th, 1960. Tom was an incredible husband to Susan providing comfort, love, adventure and security.

Tom was a loving and devoted father of two children, Bradley and Elizabeth (Lisa). He was also an amazing and involved Grandfather to his six grandchildren. Always willing to teach, mentor and share his passions and values with them.

In business, Tom was a model of shrewd business acumen. Tom worked in the paperboard packaging industry beginning with Container Corporation in 1960 to 1972. In 1972, Tom moved to Seattle became the minority partner in the leveraged purchase of Ridgway Packaging Corporation. Ridgway was a troubled company, but Tom turned the business around and over the next ten years expanded into Idaho, Los Angeles and Portland. Tom became the majority owner of Ridgway and grew the company into the largest privately owned packaging company in the western United States and then sold to James River Corporation in 1988. He retired after a consultation period to race cars and play with his grandchildren.

Tom loved cars. As a collector, he assembled and restored a significant array of cars including a 1931 Duesenberg and 1936 Cord. As a Hot Rodder, Tom developed a Chevrolet Nomad based hot rod that went on to win the Oakland Roadster Show. He was later inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame. As a racer, he was known for driving a Lola Can-Am car, Ford GT40, a number of Trans-Am cars and perhaps most importantly a 1963 Corvette Grand Sport. He often shared the track with his wife Susan. Together, they raced all over the US as well as in England and New Zealand. After Tom sold Ridgway, he also co-founded a northwest based Indy Car team called PacWest Racing and was a member of the board of Championship Auto Racing teams (CART) for three years. As an enthusiast, Tom supported a myriad of car clubs including the Classic Car Club of America, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club, Sovren and the Ferrari Club. If it had wheels and an engine, he loved it!

Sadly, Tom lost his son Bradley in 1988 to a heart condition. In dealing with his loss, Tom became a huge advocate for Seattle Children's Hospital and in 1993 he and his wife Susan funded the Thomas Bradley Armstrong Endowed Chair for Cardiology. He was the founder and driving force behind a number of fund raising events for Children's such as the Kirkland Concours d' Elegance and the Checkered Flag Club in conjunction with the 4th of July Vintage races at Pacific Raceways. With all of his hard work, Tom was presented with the prestigious Seattle Children's Hospital Anna Clise award - the first male to receive this honor. In 2007 Tom and Susan were given the Evergreen Hospital Spirit of Giving Award and finally in 2011, the J. "Jerry" Pennington Award from Children's Hospital. The Pennington Award acknowledges donors for distinguished and extraordinary commitment, exemplified by their leadership, dedication and service to Seattle Children's Hospital.

Today we bow our heads at the loss of a man who did so much for his family, friends and community. Tomorrow, we will raise our heads again remembering that his love, vision, commitment and sacrifice for the sake of his family and community lives on in the best part of each of us.

Preceded in death by his son Bradley, Tom is survived by his wife Susan, sister Maxine Black, daughter Elizabeth (Lisa) Anderson, son-in-law Steven Anderson and his six grandchildren, Susan, Katherine, Thomas, Steven, Elizabeth and Bradley Anderson.

Tom will be laid to rest at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue Washington. A memorial service will be held on February 3rd, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA 98004. A reception will be held following his service at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue in the Regency Ballroom.

Memorials can be made in his honor to Seattle Children's Hospital, the Thomas Bradley Armstrong Endowed Chair in Cardiology.

Memorials can be made in his honor to Seattle Children's Hospital, the Thomas Bradley Armstrong Endowed Chair in Cardiology.

Memorial gifts in honor of Tom may be sent to:

Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation

M/S S-200

P.O. Box 5371

Seattle, WA 98145-5005