Thomas Rivera Ley

THOMAS RIVERA LEY 1966 - 2017

Tom Ley was born November 30, 1966, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was raised in Bossier City, Louisiana.  At seventeen, during his senior year at Airline High School, he lost his eyesight due to type one diabetes.   Tom graduated from Louisiana Tech with highest honors and a  degree in math education. He taught high school math in rural Louisiana for four years.  During summers, Tom taught youth at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, and served as Chairman of its Board until 2017.  He also was President of the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind and diligently worked to make diabetes technology more accessible for blind users. 

      At the annual National Federation of the Blind Convention in 1993, Tom met Eileen Rivera.  The following year he moved to Maryland.  On December 5, 1999, Tom and Eileen were married.  To honor Eileen,  Tom took Rivera as his middle name.

      For a number of years Tom worked at Freedom Scientific, developing and marketing technology for blind people.  In September 2000 he began his career at UPS as an international help desk analyst.  In 2012 he was promoted to Senior Business Systems Analyst, a position he held until his death.  In informing his colleagues of his passing, UPS highlighted Tom's "tremendous patience and positive disposition."

     Tom lived life to the fullest, cheerfully smiling and enjoying every day.  He cherished Eileen and their children, JonCarlos and Maria.  He served as an elder and Sunday School teacher at Aisquith Presbyterian Church, and his faith in God never wavered.  He told his children that death is just an intermission, and Act Two is going to be great.  

     Tom is survived by his wife, Eileen Rivera Ley, his daughter, Maria Rivera Forman, his son, JonCarlos Ley,  and his parents, Roger and Kathleen Ley.  He is also survived by his brother Kurt Ley and his wife, Patti; his brother Scott Ley and his wife, Maureen; his sister Anne Gorney and her husband, Joe; his sister Mary Siebenmorgen and her husband, Don; and his sister Maureen Dean and her husband, Steve.  He is also survived by his father-in-law, Edwin S. Rivera; his brothers-in-law Edwin A. Rivera and his wife, Leonor, and Jorge Blandin and his wife, Margie; sisters-in-law Sandra Rivera, Millie Rivera-Rau and her husband Michael, Caroline Rivera Coon, and Suzanne Rivera, eighteen nieces and nephews and two grand-nieces.  

Cards for Eileen, Maria and JonCarlos may be sent to 804 Hatherleigh Rd Baltimore, MD 21212 or emailed to riveraley@verizon.net.

Thomas Ley Memorial Fund

To make an online gift: please visit www.louisianacenter.org and click on the “donate” button.  After you enter your donation amount and

 contact info, select the check box for the "Thomas Ley Memorial Fund".

To donate by check: write checks to the "Louisiana Center for the Blind" with "Thomas Ley Memorial Fund" on the memo line.   Send donations to the Fund c/o

Louisiana Center for the Blind

101 S. Trenton St.,

Ruston, LA 71270.  

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