"Tom, Sr. at the 2008 McDermott Dealer Meeting"

Tom was the son of the late Albert I. and Stella Zimmerer McDermott.  He was born in Mankato, MN in 1932 but grew up in Oshkosh, WI.  After graduating from the University of Notre Dame and serving as a Marine Corp officer, Tom joined the A.I. McDermott Company - or McDermott Pumps as it came to be more commonly known - in 1956.

Tom worked in numerous positions within the company from warehouseman, pump repairman, salesman, purchasing manager, hot water heating system designer, lawn sprinkler designer, pump trouble shooter, collections (not his favorite!), catalog developer and designer, marketing chief, vice president, president and chairman of the board.  During his tenure the McDermott Company expanded into plumbing and heating, expanded geographically to five (5) Wisconsin locations, introduced a DIY store marketing program for plumbers called PlumbEasy (well before the advent of the 'big boxes'), pioneered private-label programs with water heaters, pumps and water conditioning equipment and developed an often copied but never surpassed catalog known as the McDermott Dealer Price Book which has been published at least annually since 1964 (currently it is published three (3) times per year.)

Tom was active from very early in his career with state and national Industry associations.  At one time or another Tom chaired or served on the boards of the Wisconsin Pump & Well Suppliers, National Ground Water Association, the American Supply Association's Government Affairs Committee and many other organizations dedicated to the professional development of our Industry.

One of Tom's most satisfying industry experiences was in the late 1980's when he worked shoulder to shoulder with well drillers, pump installers, Wisconsin DNR regulators and lobbyists to re-write the Wisconsin Private Well Code.  It was also during this time that Tom shepherded the struggling Wisconsin Water Well Association (WWWA) through dissolution and re-emergence as the preeminent voice for the water well industry in Wisconsin.

In addition to his Industry service, Tom served on the board of directors of Valley Bank in Oshkosh for many years.

Tom was a tough but fair businessman.  He was demanding of his suppliers and employees but also of himself.  Tom's preparation for a meeting, supplier negotiation, new product introduction or a sales call was incredibly thorough.  Those who worked on projects or negotiated with Tom knew that no one in the room was better prepared than he.

Tom was generous in a quiet way and helped many people.

Tom always had an interest in the Southwest, especially New Mexico.   Tom visited New Mexico frequently, eventually spending winters there with his wife Helen.  In the early 90’s Tom purchased a working cattle ranch in the mountains of Grant County New Mexico near the Gila Wilderness Area.  Like everything else he did from running the McDermott Company to managing his Wisconsin properties for timber and farming, Tom took a very active interest - chasing cattle, building fences and drilling wells.

Tom is survived by his wife of fifty-two (52) years, Helen Macke McDermott and their four (4) sons, their wives and children: Thomas and Marcia McDermott, Daniel, John and Laura (Oshkosh); James and Rebecca McDermott, Madeline and Helen (Leesburg, VA); John and Susan McDermott, Jerris, Seamus, Justine and Aubrey (Oshkosh); and Richard McDermott and Jane Nagle, Julia and Mary (Chicago, IL)  Tom is also survived by two (2) sisters and their husbands: Patricia and Jack Kammerer and Ellen and Gifford Gibson, a brother-in-law Bob Macke and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass was held at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Oshkosh on Tuesday July 21, 2009 and internment was at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Oshkosh.  Memorials may be sent to the Oshkosh Unified Catholic Schools, the Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh and the St. Labre Indian School of Ashland, MT (www.stlabre.org).