Author Topic: Tom Lehmann has Passed Away (Read 34908 times)

amolapizza · « **Reply #20 on:** December 13, 2020, 08:08:35 AM »

What sad news. Rest in peace Tom, and my condolences to the family and friends.

I hope that someday we'll break bread in that big kitchen in the sky!

thezaman · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2020, 08:41:33 AM »

very sad news. I have attended a couple of Toms seminars such a knowledgeable person. His seminars always lasted way past the designated time . He would not stop till he answered everyone’s questions.
How long has Tom been a member on this site?
God bless you Tom. I’m sure you are with him now.

pizzaboyfan · « **Reply #22 on:** December 13, 2020, 08:48:22 AM »

Awful news

deb415611 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 13, 2020, 08:54:22 AM »

Such very sad news. Condolences to Tom's family.

Early on in my time on this forum Peter was working on the "Tom Lehmann's NY Style Pizza" thread. Tom's formula & Peter's work with it really helped improve my pizza making. I have taught some friends to make pizza with Tom's formula. So while I haven't had any direct contact with Tom he is a very large influence in my pizza evolution.

Thank you Brian for keeping us updated.

Jon in Albany · « **Reply #24 on:** December 13, 2020, 09:12:06 AM »

Just awful news. So sorry to hear it.

gdepozsgay · « **Reply #25 on:** December 13, 2020, 09:16:44 AM »

I'm new to this forum an just recently interacted with Tom via my ignorant questions that he readily and patiently answered. Don't know how but I could tell he was a kind soul. RIP Tom.

HansB · « **Reply #26 on:** December 13, 2020, 09:17:11 AM »

Quote from: thezaman on December 13, 2020, 08:41:33 AM

very sad news. I have attended a couple of Toms seminars such a knowledgeable person. His seminars always lasted way past the designated time . He would not stop till he answered everyone’s questions.
How long has Tom been a member on this site?
God bless you Tom. I’m sure you are with him now.

Larry, Tom registered on June 15, 2011, 08:38:21 AM.

Pete-zza · « **Reply #27 on:** December 13, 2020, 09:29:18 AM »

I was very saddened to hear of Tom's passing and, I, too, would like to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to the Lehmann family, including his wife Sue and their sons Jerry and Tim.

I would also like to thank Brian for keeping us informed of Tom's situation and for his nice and well deserved eulogy of Tom. Tom was one of a kind and is unlikely to ever be replaced.

I first heard of Tom about 25 years ago when I discovered the PMQ Think Tank and also the Pizza Today bulletin board that was later disbanded. I read and studied whatever Tom posted on the two forums and I also read and studied the many articles and Q&A pieces that Tom wrote for PMQ and Pizza Today. These were later followed by videos that featured Tom and his former associate at the AIB, Jeff Zeak, and others. I never met Tom personally but I always considered him to be my mentor because of all I learned from him. Even after Tom became very active on our forum, after he had retired from the AIB in 2014, after almost 50 years of service to the AIB (he was their longest tenured employee ever at that organization), I continued to learn from him. Because of Tom's extreme depth of knowledge, I made a point of citing Tom's knowledge for the benefit of the members of this forum. I have done that hundreds of times. But Tom on his own became one of the forum's top ten posters, with 6897 posts.

For those who may be interested, along the way I came across a Who's Who article at Pizza Marketplace that did a nice job describing Tom's background and career up to age 58. I believe that that article is well worth reading. It is at:

https://www.pizzamarketplace.com/news/whos-who-tom-lehmann/

Rest in peace, Tom.

Peter

scott r · « **Reply #28 on:** December 13, 2020, 09:52:16 AM »

im speachless at this terrible news

Rolls · « **Reply #29 on:** December 13, 2020, 09:57:37 AM »

Even though we knew he was sick in the hospital, I am still shocked to hear he has passed away and I simply don't want to believe it. He was more than just knowledgeable about pizza and baking. He was generous with his knowledge and tireless in answering the endless questions that came his way. He was always polite and kind and had a great sense of humour. He was simply a good man.

I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and I hope they can take some solace in knowing how he touched so many lives. I will treasure all his contributions to the forum, but most of all I will treasure the memory of his friendship and camaraderie.

Earlier in this thread, member Dmitri asked if anyone knew what Tom's favourite pizza was. I once started a thread asking Tom if he ever got tired of the whole pizza world and if he would also share with us his favourite pizza. I think his answer says more about his character than anything else:

Quote from: The Dough Doctor

Rolls;
Occasionally I get those feelings but then I'm reminded that there are so many new things happening with pizza and so many people in need of assistance that I quickly put those thoughts to rest and jump right back into the pool and seldom ever look back or have any regrets. I'm always up to trying one more slice because I'm afraid I'll miss something if I don't.
As for my favorite pizza, I'd have to say it's AJ's New York Pizzeria, Manhattan, Kansas. I have to admit that I'm partial to it because my DNA is all over the pizza as well as the pizza concept, so if I don't like it I only have myself to blame. I have two favorite pizza chasers, if I'm driving it's a large, cold root beer. If I'm not driving it'll be a tall Guiness Stout
I've always considered it an honor to be able to participate in sites like this as well as the PMQ Think Tank and to be asked to participate in Pizza Expo (don't know how many years I've done P.E. but it's been most of them).
In the end, my own personal rewards come when someone writes me or approaches me and starts the conversation by saying "You probably don't remember me but your advice helped my get my store off the ground"......what more can one ask for?
Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor

Rest in peace Tom. I will miss you dearly.

Renato (Rolls)

Sandurz · « **Reply #30 on:** December 13, 2020, 10:04:21 AM »

That's horrible and unreal.
Rest in peace Tom.

Pete-zza · « **Reply #31 on:** December 13, 2020, 10:16:56 AM »

Rolls,

I agree with you completely. I also observed over the years that it was hard, if not impossible, to rattle Tom. And he never attacked anyone. Those were qualities of character that I admired and tried to emulate on our forum after I was asked by Steve to be a Moderator.

I should also note that Tom thought highly of our forum. For example, in the middle of a thread that had nothing to do with his personal views, he wrote the following:

I've visited a lot of different type of forums over the years and one thing that I can attest to is that pizzamaking.com is one of the most sharing (by all participants), respectful and civil of all the forums.........Pizzamaking.com, if not already, is well on its way to becoming the most recognized collective authority for knowledge for the home/hobby pizza maker in the world which is quite an achievement for all at Pizzamaking.com!
Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor

Peter

nlavon · « **Reply #32 on:** December 13, 2020, 10:17:02 AM »

Just let me add my sentiments.

He dutifully and patiently answered questions I posted, which to him, may have been redundant or those of someone just blurting out inquiries without truly thinking, and likely beneath his level of expertise. But when he did, it always struck me that, on this forum, I had the chance to get my posting answered by an ultimate authority and someone with vast knowledge of his field. That he took the time to answer me was special. One doesn't often get that opportunity.

I saw this notice and said out loud, "Oh, no!" RIP, Mr. Lehmann, you will be missed.

Steve · « **Reply #33 on:** December 13, 2020, 10:51:14 AM »

OMG, I'm at a loss for words. This is just terrible news, I'm so sad.

My deepest condolences to Tom's wife and his family.

Josh123 · « **Reply #34 on:** December 13, 2020, 11:07:11 AM »

RIP Tom

Before I opened my pizzeria, we had a three hour phone call, where he described every detail of what I’d need to know and expect from the business. He was a very generous guy and won’t be forgotten. F*ck Covid.

icebob · « **Reply #35 on:** December 13, 2020, 11:15:34 AM »

Really sad news, RIP Tom and deepest condolences to his family.

02ebz06 · « **Reply #36 on:** December 13, 2020, 12:01:30 PM »

So sorry to hear... RIP Tom.

Jersey Pie Boy · « **Reply #37 on:** December 13, 2020, 12:20:36 PM »

I'm so very sad to hear this news...Tom was an amazing man, so deeply committed to his work and our community. He was always patient with my endless detailed questions..so kind and helpful and with a gentle humor. He will be so missed by his family and many friends both personal and industry.

My deepest condolences ..

Jackitup · « **Reply #38 on:** December 13, 2020, 12:22:27 PM »

Tom's 1st post here!!!

quietdesperation · « **Reply #39 on:** December 13, 2020, 12:56:14 PM »

The knowledge Tom shared with me has been passed on to my three kids, each pizza makers in their own right. As such, Tom's knowledge will be ripple from generation to generation of home pizza makers.

RIP and my heartfelt condolences to the Lehmann family.