Thomas Reiman

Obituary of Thomas Andrew Reiman

Thomas Andrew Reiman September 17, 1951 – January 9, 2021 A thinker, innovator, difference maker and man that always interacted from his heart. Tom was a native of Oakland, California the son of Martin Reiman (deceased 1998) and Eve Morgan Reiman (deceased 1/3/2021). He attended Oakland High School, Class of '69 where he was active in Student Council, the swim team and keeping up with his bright older sister Joan Reiman Fischer's scholastic reputation. A graduate of University of California, Berkeley, School of Criminology (1973) he joined Vista (Volunteers in Service to America) with assignment in Atlanta, GA, where he served in the Fulton County probation department. Returning to the Bay Area he completed his M.A. in Community Development and Public Service from the University of San Francisco while interning for California Congressman Leo Ryan. While at Cal Tom met his future wife Cindy Dennis working at Grodins of California, Kaiser Center, where they both had summer jobs. They were married in 1975 at Mills College Chapel in Oakland. Soon after, advancing their newlywed experience, they immigrated across the world to Melbourne Australia, Tom accepting a position with the Victorian Social Welfare Department and Cindy, an RN, as a nursing sister. For over three years they immersed themselves in Australian culture, meeting lifelong friends and exploring the wonders of the southern hemisphere. They embraced the opportunity of Social Service as well as discovery trips throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Returning to the States in 1979 Tom's career included an executive position with the community of Harbor Bay Isle, Alameda CA. In 1986 he was recruited to relocate to Heathrow Florida, an innovative new community created by Jeno Paulucci, founder of Chung King foods and Jeno's Pizza Rolls. It was here Tom was mentored by visionaries in the Telcom field as Heathrow elected to take control of its connectivity future by becoming the world's first Fiber to the Home community, fundamentally changing the direction of telecommunication worldwide. Tom understood the value of fiber connectivity and its role in advancing day to day communication well before the word "Broadband" was introduced. A new career was launched! Following his Heathrow experience Tom partnered with TriTek Communications, a Cable Television Multiple System Operator, based in Charleston, South Carolina. From here he served as a strategic planning network consultant to Southern Bell and Pacific Bell. He also represented Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in a global, Energy Information Services project with Microsoft. In 1995 he drafted the Master Plan for the Wellington, New Zealand "Telecity" project, and led "First Cities", an Electronic Commerce Consortium for the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) in Austin, Texas. In 1997 The Broadband Group (TBG) was established in Sacramento, CA. Through the combination of land entitlement, development, and telecom expertise, TBG represented many of America's largest Cities, Master Planned Communities, and Utilities. Tom's influence and planning expertise became instrumental in the creation of high-fiber broadband connected communities throughout the nation. In 2007, acting on an opportunity to partner with a local developer, Tom & Cindy moved the TBG office to Las Vegas, NV. During the recession of 2009, Tom, together with the Nevada Hospital Association, lead development of a program that secured Federal funding to connect Las Vegas and Reno with a direct interstate fiber broadband network. A first for the State. Tom leaves behind a wide area network (WAN) of trust, respect, integrity, friendships, wisdom and generosity. He was a true architect of such a WAN as he built The Broadband Group from a humble home office into one that has earned the respect of multiple industries nationwide. An expert at gentle sarcasm, he was orderly disruptive in a way that made a positive difference. He was also renown in "building" the best gin and tonic from Melbourne to Bluffton. Tom's journey ended much too soon, but his influence will continue to thrive. He treasured his many friends and business colleagues, his accomplished team, his opportunity to contribute to his industry, but above all his family. Sons Joshua and Jeff Reiman; granddaughters Savannah and Aria Reiman, sister Joan Fischer (David) and wife and business partner of over 45 years, Cindy. A family celebration of life will be held at Tom and Cindy's home in S. Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy or a charity of your choosing.
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