THOMAS P. CHEW

THOMAS “TOM” PATRICK CHEW passed away on May 15, 2026, after fighting cancer with strength, grit, and the same determination he brought to every part of his life.

Born February 11, 1959, in New London, Connecticut to Joseph Clarke Chew and Elizabeth Ann Chew (née Sullivan), Tom built a life centered around hard work, family, music, creativity, and caring deeply for both people and the world around him. He married Debra Lee Castro in 1977, and together they built a life filled with laughter, resilience, and unwavering love. He was the devoted father of Erica Chew (Michael Scott) and proud Papa to his only grandson, Jude Lee Tom Scott. Dearest brother of Stephen (Mary, deceased), Tim (Carole), Daniel, Victoria and the late Joseph (Jayne); dear uncle, great uncle and friend of many.

He dedicated more than four decades of his life to Westview Heating and Cooling, a business he built with his own hands through sleepless nights, emergency calls, and relentless work ethic. His reputation spoke louder than any advertisement ever could, and he put others before himself without hesitation. But work was only one part of who he was.

He was an artist disguised as an HVAC guy. Creative. Funny. Thoughtful. Generous to a fault.He had a different way of looking at things, reimagining what others may have seen as broken or forgotten. Like something discarded becoming part of the beautiful garden he built on Lorain Road, where every plant had a purpose and every unique item carried its own story and past. His sheet metal shop became “Club Westview,” where the band played all night and people danced until morning. Music wasn’t background noise to Tom — it was oxygen. When Chewman didn’t know the instrument, he became the instrument. From sailing adventures to everyday misadventures, Tom embodied the simple joy of being present. He despised people who litter because he loved and respected nature — the moon, the stars, storms rolling in, and his beloved menagerie of animals. He once decided against taking the life of an unwanted rat, worried about what his squirrels would think of him.

He could seemingly work endlessly so he did so until the end. He made people laugh harder, think differently, and feel more alive simply by being there. His absence leaves an immeasurable space in the lives of those who loved him, and he will be remembered not only for the work he did, but for the heart behind it.

Tom’s life will be celebrated on Friday, May 22, 2026, St. Angela Merici Church (20970 Lorain Rd.) at 10:00 AM.