Thomas Richard Handley

Thomas R. Handley, 72, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Kaiser Permanente Fremont Hospital, in Fremont, California, surrounded by his family.  Tom was born on March 17, 1952 in Muncie, Indiana, to the late George (“Dick”) and the late Miriam (Cooper) Handley.  He grew up in Selma, Indiana, attended Culver Military Academy and graduated in 1970 from Muncie Central High School. Later he received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and his master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.

For a number of years, Tom worked in the family business, Peoples Studio and Photo Center in Muncie, where he became a skilled photographer and manager of the photo finishing plant.  In 1990 he moved to Fremont, California where he worked as a production manager, first for Fuji Film and then for Oatey plumbing products, and later became a realtor for Intero Realty in Fremont.

Tom was an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer, skills he learned in the gravel pits of Muncie, Indiana, and later taught and practiced in California and in his many travels, especially to Hawaii.  He thrived on civic engagement:  he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Union Sanitary District where he served for over 20 years; he also served on the Board of the Bay Philharmonic and at the time of his passing was its Vice-President; he was a long-standing member of the Rotary Club of Mission San Jose, the Elks and the Commonwealth Club.  Tom was a good friend to many and a mentor to a number of young people.

He is survived by his sisters, Cheryl Handley and Carol Paz, his nephew, Reza Handley-Namavar, his nieces Tanya Paz and Roxanna Handley-Namavar. (husband, Shamim Ahmed), grand-nephew Alexander Ahmed. and his stepson Marvier Tayao.     He is also survived by many close friends.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at a later date in Fremont, California and in Muncie, Indiana.  Burial of Tom’s ashes will be in Elm Ridge Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association at www.abta.org and/or to the Bay Philharmonic at www.bayphil.org.

Berge, Pappas, Smith Chapel of the Angels, Funerals and Cremations, in Fremont, California, are in charge of arrangements.   Online condolences and memories of Tom may be left for the family at www.bpschapel.com.