Thomas Paul Marmaro

Thomas served in the Navy, having first been stationed out of Hawaii. Afterward, he was influenced by his uncle to become a police officer. During his tenure as an officer in Los Angeles, he pulled over Elvis Presley for speeding, which led to a working relationship and friendship with him. Thomas took an early retirement from the L.A. police department after 25 years and moved to Springfield, Oregon. While in Springfield, he worked for the Sherriff’s department for a time before leaving to open a Risk Management Company. He retired in 1999.

In 1997, he met Andrea and told her that she had “M&M eyes.” The two married on September 2, 2000 in Eugene, Oregon.

Thomas was a big Elvis Presley fan, especially when it came to his Gospel music. He owned horses and German Shepherds, which he was very fond of. He loved to research anything that piqued his interest and would dedicate time each day to reading his Bible and watching spiritual preaching. As the recipient and survivor of a liver transplant, which was due to his genetic chromosomal mismatch, Thomas discovered an interest in transplant research and became an advocate for organ donation.

Thomas will forever be remembered for his faith to God, his faithfulness to his family, and the love he held for his country.

Thomas is survived by his wife Andrea Jo Valdez-Marmaro, his sister Lorraine Meyer and brother-in-law Roger Meyer, his mother-in-law Linda Jacobson and father-in-law Robert Jacobson. He is also survived by several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, as well as his nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Thomas’s memory to Tunnels to Towers, the Veteran’s Service Organization, and the Gary Sinise Foundation.