Thomas John Paquette

Thomas John Paquette died Sept. 17. He was 74.

Paquette was born on Nov. 27, 1945, the son of Francis and Mary Paquette in Fall River, Massachusetts.  In 1963 he came to California and joined the Navy.  While stationed on the USS Kitty Hawk, he traveled to Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Guam. In 1964, he met his future wife, Claudia. They were married July 1, 1970.

Paquette was granted a painter apprenticeship in 1968 and started working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 1976.  During his 27-year career at the Lab, he worked in Maintenance and Operations, Painters Department and supported Plant Engineering shops, eventually in a lead role for the painters.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Claudia, daughter Jeannine Marques (husband Andrew) and son Joseph McBeth, grandchildren Sandra Thompson, Doug Marques, Brian Marques, Eric Marques, Adam Marques and Zack McBeth, 19 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.  He also is survived by his brother, Frank Paquette, Jr. He was proceeded in death by his parents and son Michael.

Services will be held Thursday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. at Transfiguration Catholic Church. 4000 E. Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s name to UCSF Research Center for Small Cell Prostate Cancer (giving.uscf.edu), Disabled American Veterans (dav.org) or the VFW, and Transfiguration Catholic Church (transfigchurch.com).