Obituary of Thomas Sydney Larkin

Thomas Sydney Larkin, who brought warmth, love and light to his family, friends and everyone who knew him passed away at home in Wilton, CT on November 17, after living gracefully and courageously with ALS for nearly four years. Tom possessed an infectious joy and warmth, a contemplative spirit and an exuberant love for his family and friends. Tom was born on December 1, 1953 in Pasadena, California to parents Elaine and Sydney Larkin. He grew up on Greenfield Avenue in Arcadia. Tom earned his Bachelor's degree in Communications from Arizona State University where he formed lifelong friendships as President of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After graduation, he spent two meaningful years serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Oakland, California. He earned his Master's degree in Counseling Psychology at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon while he worked for several years teaching English, theater and debate at a private high school. In 1985, he moved to the east coast and within a few weeks met his soulmate Lorraine Joan Steiner on All Soul's Day. Lorraine and Tom were married on February 16, 1986 in Greenwich, Connecticut. They welcomed their first daughter Emily Mary in 1988 and three years later welcomed twins Annie Elizabeth and Thomas Cody. For 35 years, Tom was Vice President and then President of Communico, a customer service training and development business based in Westport, Connecticut. He was a sought after expert and delivered thousands of trainings, presentations, and consulting engagements to clients around the globe, over the course of his career. Every engagement was marked by his signature dynamic energy and humor. He was a true “edu-tainer.” In 2011, he co-authored the book "How to Talk to Customers.” Tom was respected and adored by his coworkers and clients alike. Tom also served as an adjunct Professor at Fairfield University for 12 years, teaching in the Communications Department. He loved coaching students as they developed their public speaking skills and enjoyed bringing them his homemade zucchini bread when the class met at dinnertime. The end of semester student feedback was always glowing: “You were a professor that truly cared.” “Best professor and class I ever had.” “This class significantly decreased my public speaking anxiety!” Tom was a devoted and present husband, father and grandfather. He coached countless sports teams, was the master of ceremonies at every birthday party and initiated special traditions with each of his children. He was deeply engaged in his faith community, St. Jerome's Church in Norwalk, Connecticut. He treasured his weekly men's group that met on Saturday mornings and the brotherhood those meetings formed over the past 15 years. He looked forward to his yearly hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a place that inspired reflection, wonder and awe. He prioritized staying connected with friends from all chapters of his life with surprise visits and frequent letters containing homemade artwork, relevant articles, poems and eye glass cleaner. That love and intentionality returned to him as mail arrived for him almost daily throughout his nearly four years living with ALS. He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of 37 years, Lorraine, his two daughters, Emily Larkin Arocha (Rico) and Annie Larkin, his son Cody Larkin (Erica) and his two grandchildren—Thomas Bradley and Anna Sydney, both named after their amazing Grandfather. He is also survived by his four siblings, Estelle Seaton, Mike Larkin, Tim Larkin, Pat Larkin and his many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Elaine and Sydney Larkin. Those who knew him will miss his warm and exuberant greetings, his curious and thoughtful questions, his sense of humor and his uncanny ability to make you feel like you were his favorite person in the room. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to ALS United of Connecticut (formerly the ALS Association of Connecticut) in Milford, CT or St. Jerome’s Church in Norwalk, CT. A Catholic funeral mass will be held on Tuesday November 28th, at 11:00AM at St. Jerome's Church in Norwalk, Connecticut with a burial following at Riverside Cemetery in Norwalk. A reception at St. Jerome’s will follow.