Tom Guffin, 85, of Huntsville, AL, passed away on May 30, 2024. He was born on February 2, 1939, in Camden, NJ, to Lorene and Dr. Gilbert Guffin. Tom was a beloved husband of 58 years to Marilyn and a cherished father to Dr. Shawn Guffin (Stephanie) and Sheryl Clem (Jonas). He was also adored by his grandchildren Rachel, Jake, and Jack. Tom is survived by his wife and children and was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dr. Truett Guffin.
Tom was known for his kindness, generosity, supportiveness, intelligence, gentle nature, humor, curiosity, creativity, love, and persistence. He was a man of many talents and interests. Tom attended Lower Marion High School in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering from Georgia Tech, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He had a successful career as an aerospace engineer for NASA from 1962 to 2000, working on varied projects such as the Moon Buggy, multiple Apollo missions, Space Shuttle missions, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
In his free time, Tom enjoyed composing music, singing with multiple community musical organizations and performing solos. Learning and teaching languages was a passion, including teaching English as a Second Language. Tom served as a deacon at Huntsville First Baptist Church where he also taught Sunday school. He was an avid traveler and found joy in exploring different cultures. Tom also earned a pilot’s license, a glider certification, and loved all things aviation.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at First Baptist Church in Huntsville on June 29, 2024. Visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m., followed by the celebration of life at 11 a.m. In honor of Tom’s intense dislike of wearing a tie, we kindly request that the gentlemen consider leaving your tie at home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Parkinson’s Dynamics in memory of Tom Guffin at Parkinson’s Dynamics, PO Box 2440 Huntsville, AL 35804 (https://www.parkinsonsdynamics.org/donate).
Tom will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and his legacy of love and dedication will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends.
