Obituary Thomas Joseph Dawson – Lafayette, CA (1944-2024)

Tom Dawson was born in 1944 in Columbia, South Carolina. Tom served four years in the Air Force, stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. He then traveled to San Francisco, where he met Patricia, his wife of 54 years. Tom worked as an optician while completing his education at San Francisco City College, San Francisco State, and the University of San Francisco School of Law. Tom and his family moved to the East Bay in 1976, where Tom began his law practice in Walnut Creek, where he continued to practice until his death in May. Tom was an avid runner, running multiple marathons, and was a devoted member of the Big C Athletic Club. One of Tom’s favorite pastimes was his “trifecta,” which involved attending Mass at his parish, Christ the King, in Pleasant Hill, then going to his club, and finally to his law practice in Walnut Creek. Later in his career, Tom traveled to Central and Eastern Europe to teach courses in international law. Tom is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Michelle, son Robert and his five grandchildren whom he adored. He is also survived by his brother Robert Dawson and his sister Mimi Rozansky.