THOMAS JOSEPH CASHMAN SR. – April 29, 1932 – Jan. 7, 2015.
Thomas Cashman Sr. of Anaheim Union High School Class of 1950, passed away Jan. 7, at the age of 82. A Dana Point resident, Tom was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to John and Genevieve Cashman.
The family moved to California, settling in Anaheim where Tom attended local schools. He served his country in the US Air Force after leaving Anaheim High and became a Morse Code instructor.
He continued his education at CSU Los Angeles, where he majored in Education and Computer Science, paving his way to becoming a teacher and renowned author in the computer field.
He established one of the first business data processing programs in the nation at Long Beach City College, where he taught computer science for 33 years and served as department head. His first book on computer science was published by his own company. He later wrote for Thompson International Publishing of Toronto, Boston and London.
In 1969, he began collaborating with now best-selling author, Gary Shelly, to write more than 100 books on computer science that have sold over 20 million copies. His topics included Microsoft products, web design, business data communications, computer fundamentals and more.
Tom leaves behind his wife Merilyn Gentry and five of his seven children: Penelope, Timothy, Candice, Kristy and Todd. Tom was preceded in death by two sons; Ty Gabriel Cashman, in 1986 and Thomas Joseph Cashman, Jr., in 2011. He also leaves behind 15 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and one sister, Caroline Michalik of Henderson, Nevada.
His service was held Jan. 13, 2015, at McAulay & Wallace Chapel in Fullerton. He was a member of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church.
