Obituary: Thomas Robert Singer

Thomas Robert Singer passed away peacefully in his home on August 29th, 2025 at 12:40 pm. Tom remained lucid and calm during his very last moments expressing his concern for the well-being of his loved ones. As usual, he wanted to make sure that everyone was taken care of and he was in good humor despite his physical discomfort all the way to the end. 

Tom was born on October 17th, 1948 and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he spent most of his life. He often reminisced about his childhood in Orinda, California where he ran around in the hills with his friends, many of whom have been lifelong companions. He grew up with one younger sister, Rocheal, who he loved dearly. As Tom grew older and went off to college he maintained contact with his childhood friends and created new memories that he would cherish forever. He loved to tell stories about the adventures that he had, painting an image in the minds of the listeners as if they were reading a chapter from a John Steinbeck novel. One of Tom’s greatest passions was reading and it showed in his storytelling. These adventures included, but were not limited to, motorcycle riding, navigating the San Francisco-San Joaquin Delta in a ski boat, camping in remote parts of the forest and traveling to Mexico. When Tom became a father, these adventures continued as he included his two sons and step-daughter in the various activities that he enjoyed doing. Some might have considered him reckless at times but he was actually very calculated and conscientious of the safety of others. 

As a professional, Tom was well respected and had an inherent ability to gain the trust of his clients. That trust was maintained as his small construction company provided services from one client to the next. His company, Adapt Construction Inc., did not advertise because it didn’t have to. By “word-of-mouth” the clients learned of the quality of work that the company produced and, big or small, the company always had a job to do. The person that Tom perhaps looked up to most in life was his own father who he was proud to call his partner in business. They often had friendly arguments about jobs that they were doing but only because they were both passionate about what they were doing and wanted to make sure the customer was happy. 

Today, Tom is survived by his loving family which grew in recent years. Tom’s wife, Rebecca Ross, is alive and well and now resides in Northern California with their son Jeffrey, Jeffrey’s wife Andrea, and their children which include Rowan, Quinley, Waylon and Shiloh. Tom’s oldest son, Christopher, also lives in Northern California with his wife Brianda and their daughter Juliette. Tom’s step-daughter, Kimberly, lives in Northern California as well and, although Tom was not her biological father, Kimberly often referred to him as her “real dad” because he was the most positive father figure in her life. Tom’s younger sister Rocheal is also mourning the loss of her brother. 

Tom was a person who, without a doubt, loved life and lived it to the fullest. People that knew him knew that they could count on him to be there in times of need. He was the hardest of workers but he knew how to have fun. He was a generous and kind person that left a lasting impression on all that had the privilege of knowing him. For years to come, his friends and family will share stories about him and laugh and smile in his remembrance. As his grandchildren grow to be adults, they will hear these stories and through their memories, his legacy will live on.