Thomas Regis TeMaat
1952 -2025
 | Thomas Regis TeMaat was born on Sept. 3, 1952, in Long Beach, California, and passed away there on Jan. 21, 2025. He was the son of Wilma (Birkenbach) and Fred TeMaat. He is survived by his loving wife, Estrella “Lea” TeMaat; her daughter, Marie Grace Lacap; son-in-law Jonathan Lacap; two grandchildren, Joshua, who called Tom “Papa,” and Rosemarie; his sister, Lisa TeMaat Binder; his brother-in-law, Paul Binder; and many cousins from the TeMaat and Birkenbach families.
Tom grew up in Lakewood and Long Beach. He studied accounting at California State University, Long Beach, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he accepted an accounting job with the County of Ventura. He lived in Ventura for two years before buying a home in nearby Camarillo, where he was active in his local parish, raising funds to build the Padre Serra Church, and joining the Knights of Columbus. He also spent 20 years as a volunteer for the city’s Senior Nutrition Program, delivering meals to people aged 60+ throughout Camarillo.
A sports fan, Tom enjoyed watching football, baseball and basketball, cheering on the Rams, Dodgers and Lakers. He also participated in several sports, with golf and tennis being his favorites. He picked up the TeMaat tradition of playing cards and achieved the rank of Life Master with his regional bridge club.
Tom enjoyed traveling, especially road trips and cruises. He traveled extensively throughout the Western United States, visiting many national parks along the way. Over the years he took several trips to Hawaii, and he also traveled to Great Britain with his mom and sister in the 1990s and to Italy with Lea and Marie Grace in 2018.
A visitation/rosary is being held 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, February 7, at McKenzie Mortuary in Long Beach. The funeral mass is being held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church (site of his parent’s 1948 wedding). His final resting place will be All Soul’s Cemetery in Long Beach.
To make a donation in lieu of flowers, here are some organizations Tom supported: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Center.
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