Thomas R. Stein, 79, of Santa Rosa Beach, FL passed away on September 24, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. Tom died from complications after falling at the racetrack in Watkins Glen, NY, just before he was scheduled to race the course for the first time in over 50 years. Tom is survived by his wife of 40 years, Janet Stratton Stein, his children Tommy Stein (Allison) of Templeton, CA; Sarah Stein of Santa Rosa Beach, FL; Isaac Stein (Maggie) of Houston, TX; and his grandchildren Kato and Naali Stein and Judah and Frankie Bears. He is also survived by his brothers Geoffrey, Fredric, and Howard Stein. He was preceded in death by his parents Aaron and Adelle Stein. Tom was born in Buffalo, NY on March 30, 1943 and grew up in Elmira, NY. He completed his BA degree from Antioch College in 1966. Tom was a free spirit. He had a smile on his face for everyone. He was intelligent, inquisitive, and witty. He read books in the company of his cat and played the piano when he thought no one was listening. He was genuinely curious and loved to pick up conversation with family, friends, and strangers on almost any topic. During his twenties and thirties, an adventurous Tom found many eclectic jobs. He was a stagehand in New York City and played a steam calliope on the Erie Canal. After moving to California in 1968, Tom worked as a San Francisco postal carrier, a cable car grip man, a fisherman, a hay truck driver, an auto mechanic and the owner of Tom’s Terrific Tacos food truck at UC Berkeley. On August 10, 1983 Tom married Janet, the love of his life, and they moved from Oakland, CA to Florida where Tom answered a call from his college friend, Robert S. Davis, to help develop a new town called Seaside. He was Seaside’s first Town Manager. In 1985, he established Thos. Stein, Inc., an underground utility and site contracting company that he proudly operated for 37 years. His daughter Sarah carries on the legacy of the family business he started. He also served his community as a member and chairman of the Code Enforcement Board for twenty two years, became involved in promoting public transportation along 30A and was a member of the Point Washington Historical Society. Tom and Janet raised their three children in Santa Rosa Beach. Tom was a loving and devoted husband and father. He lived life to the fullest: Tom rowed his sculls on the Intercoastal Waterway, cruised his sailboat on the Choctawhatchee Bay, drove his boat up the Choctawhatchee River, raced sports cars, biked on forest trails, and constantly worked around his house and construction yard. In recent years, Tom and Janet, were able to travel both internationally and in their RV, visiting friends and family across the nation. Tom was a pillar of his community and his family. His smile, his curiosity, and his playful wit will live on in our memories, and he will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers you may make a donation by check to the Tom Stein Memorial Fund. The fund will be used to honor Tom at the boat house with a public bench and to encourage young people to enjoy, respect and preserve the waters of the Choctawhatchee River and Bay watershed.
