Tom was born on October 22, 1939, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Willard and Arlene (Decher) Sperber. He graduated from Western Hills High School and University of Cincinnati. Tom was a Golden Legion member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and a veteran of the United States Army.
On March 5, 1966 he married Linda Fay Tarvin in northern Kentucky and drove to Farmington, Michigan to begin his sales and management career. Tom’s career led the family to various towns in Michigan, Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. Upon his retirement as Vice President, Light Metals Division, Henkel Surface Technologies, he began his second career -- that of avid golfer. While working, his love of golf was limited to Saturdays with the guys, Sundays with either Linda or his girls and the occasional trip to the beach for golf. When he retired, he was able to play at least three times a week and the occasional tournament. He was very proud of his career four hole-in-ones and was always striving for the next one.
Tom also loved his sports. He attended athletic events of his daughters, Susan and Karen, and his granddaughter, Anna. Tom enjoyed many events at The University of Georgia and University of North Carolina over the years.
Although he loved his college football and basketball, his first love was baseball. Tom loved to share the story that he played high school baseball with Pete Rose until he discovered he could not hit a curve ball. Until his last day, he watched his beloved Atlanta Braves. His family joked that he had an internal Braves clock as he always knew when they were playing.
Tom will be remembered for his love of family, friends, country and faith. His strength, optimism and courage fighting ALS for 13 years will be one of his legacies.
Tom is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda (Tarvin) Sperber, his daughters, Susan (Alexander) Woollcott of Atlanta, Georgia and Karen (Jason) Cornell of Milton, Georgia; his three granddaughters Anna Salvadori, Ashley Cornell and Madison Cornell; his two step-grandchildren, May Collins Woollcott and Benjamin Woollcott; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his brother, Ronald Sperber of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Arlene Sperber.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 11, 2018, at Parkway Presbyterian Church, 5830 Bethelview road, Cumming, GA 30040, reception following the service.
Memorials may be sent to Parkway Presbyterian Church, in memory of Tom Sperber or ALS Association of Georgia, 5881 Glenridge Drive, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30328, please note in memory of Tom Sperber for research.
DONATIONS
Parkway Presbyterian Church, in memory of Tom Sperber or ALS Association of Georgia, 5881 Glenridge Drive, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30328, please note in memory of Tom Sperber for research.
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