Wonderful Father, Uncle, Brother, Son, Cousin, and Devoted Friend, Thomas Mark Harrington, 78, of Bothell, WA, passed on Thursday, October 5th.

Tom was born in Pontiac, MI in 1945 to Margaret & Arthur Harrington as the younger brother of Bill Harrington. He attended South Charleston High School in South Charleston, West Virginia before attending Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia. Tom was part of the swim team in high school and also played football in both high school and college and continued to enjoy swimming and always cheering loudly for his favorite football teams, especially U. of Michigan (Go Blue!), Washington State University (Go Cougs!), and the Seahawks (a true 12th Man). Tom went on to become a very successful salesman & manager for high-end menswear, starting at Hastings, then Klopfenstein’s and eventually Nordstrom which was reflected in his polished and sharp way of dressing. In the late 80's, Tom coached basketball alongside two of his best friends, Jim Harris, and Bob "Coach" Dean, for the Issaquah, WA Parks & Rec. department, coaching middle school-aged kids. Post-retirement, he was an honorary volunteer posse member with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Phoenix, AZ. Tom was an avid sports fan, always watching golf and rooting for his favorite teams -- we're sure his neighbors often heard him cheering or yelling at the TV screen. Tom loved music, especially Motown but could enjoy Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, and Garth Brooks just the same. He was also creative, mostly in the art form of photography and poetry. He enjoyed long car rides into the countryside to photograph the things that history had left behind, or a beautiful nature scene. He made the simple things look beautiful and was able to bring them to life with the written word.

Tom will always be remembered for his devotion to his friends who spanned his lifetime and the many places he lived. Staying connected to people in a meaningful and caring way was a legacy he leaves behind and is something to teach us all. He was also funny, making people laugh and lighten-up about the seriousness of life. We'll all remember him saying, "Here's another fine mess I've gotten myself into!".

Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret, his father, Arthur, his brother, Bill and his former second wife, Kathy. Tom is survived by his two daughters, Kelly and Shannon, his former first wife of 20 years, Char, his two stepchildren Lakin & Jody, 8 grandchildren, his 2 nieces, Tawny & Dawn and his 2 nephews, Sean & Lance. His most cherished role in life was being 'Dad' and we knew how much he loved us all. He also served as an informal 'Dad' to many friends in his and his children's circle. His daughters have loved hearing from friends, family, and even acquaintances, how much he bragged about, and loved his kids -- really anyone who would listen.

Honoring Tom's wishes, he has been cremated. He has asked for his daughters to place some of his ashes in a beautiful stream in the mountains. An engraved rock w/Tom’s name will be placed in the stream. A celebration of life will be held December 3rd, in Issaquah, WA.

We will miss Tom everyday but are so grateful for the time we had with him and the loving imprint he made in our lives and in this world. To share one of his favorite quotes and as a reminder to enjoy your time here in this world, "The problem is, you THINK you have time." - Buddha 

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