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With deep love, we announce the passing of Thomas Lee Schlesinger, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, who passed away August 30, 2026.
Born in late November 1946 at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Detroit, Tom arrived as the youngest son of Lloyd and Betty Schlesinger and was welcomed by his older brother, Joe.
It was in Birmingham, Michigan, that Tom discovered his talent for baseball, playing Little League, an early sign of his passion for sports and competition. Tom’s father passed away following an auto accident when Tom was ten years old. Faced with this loss, his mother courageously learned to drive and found work to support the family. The family moved to Stockton, CA in 1960.
Tom’s adult years were defined by his remarkable discipline and diverse passions. He committed himself to the martial arts, earning multiple black belts and co-founding a dojo with Ron Marchini and Steve LaBounty. He became a fixture in the competitive full-contact karate circuit--a pursuit that occasionally required him to set his own broken nose after a competition. Recognizing the long-term toll of the sport, he transitioned to refereeing and authored “The Schlesinger Rules System,” the first rulebook for scoring karate matches.
Following his karate years, Tom pivoted to the title insurance industry, where he enjoyed a successful career, eventually rising to become a Senior Vice President at First American Title. During this time he met Katharine “Kitty” Gould. They shared a deep, enduring love, marrying on the beach in Kapalua, Maui, in September 1995.
For over 30 years, Hawaii became their second home. Tom grew to be a devoted golfer. His dedication to the game was exceptional; he was a frequent participant in 'Da Game' in Kapalua, became a member of Round Hill Country in Alamo, and took regular lessons from Laird Small at the Pebble Beach Golf Academy. His hard work paid off: he became a multi-time club champion, shot a 67 at Pebble Beach from the Blue Tees, and even played nine holes with Jack Nicklaus.
Tom lived a full, disciplined, and adventurous life. Freedom-loving and light in spirit, he was known as a mentoring soul, whether through golf, karate, or guiding his daughters, son, and countless students and associates. Tom enjoyed instilling confidence in his loved ones, regardless of how diverse their interests. He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kitty Schlesinger, and his older brother, Joe Schlesinger, along with his daughters and son: Allison Rampa, Sydney Homeier, and Frank Endert, and his grandchildren: Helen Homeier and Hudson Homeier, and his grandniece, Octavia Johnson.
At Tom’s request, there will be no standard service. However, Kitty and the family are planning a Celebration of Life, with details to be announced closer to his birthday. In the meantime, we ask those who knew him to keep Tom close and alive in their hearts.