Obituary

Thomas Corsentino, 57, of Napa, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, in Huntington Beach due to complications with battling health issues.

Born May 6, 1955, in Milwaukee, Tom moved to California when he was 22 and attended college while working in various technical fields. Over the past 25 years, Tom worked for leading manufacturers in the U.S. plumbing industry, either in specification sales and sales management as a factory employee, or as a commissioned independent agent: Anaheim Foundry Company, Tyler Pipe, Josam Company and Zurn Industries, and American Brass and Iron.

It was readily apparent to all of these companies’ ownership and sales management that Tom had exceptional gifts as a presenter, demonstrating exhaustive product knowledge of both his company’s and his competitors’ products. That was coupled with an uncanny ability to convert the features of products into tangible benefits to the engineer or architect that would consider specifying them, to the contractor who would install them and to the building owner who would live with them, in some cases for the life of the building.

At the very core of his personality were these traits: integrity, passion, and hard work. Tom told the truth to his clients and customers and his employees, even when occasionally it hurt, and he was passionate about any company he worked for ‘ its people, its culture and its products. He was irrepressibly enthusiastic in believing in himself and his company. He took ownership of whatever he did, treating it like it was his own business. He was like a workhorse dragging cumbersome demonstration gear literally all over the world to make his sales presentations. In the end, he got to fulfill his dream of entrepreneurial enterprise, to run a business. His agency, representing Zurn Industries and American Brass and Iron and others, is considered one of the leading Nor Cal representative firms, which continues to exceed its sales objectives by taking care of its customers’ needs quickly and correctly.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Heather, and sons Andrew, James and Anthony; his sister Lorrie (Kevin) and niece Ciarra; and also his precious Aunt Anna Boho.

Service will be at 11 a.m., Monday, October 15, at Grace Baptist Church, 3765 Solano Ave., Napa. Words of sympathy can be sent to oconnormortuary.com. Donations can be made to Grace Church, Tom C Memorial Fund.