Thomas Saleh Hishmeh

With deep love and gratitude, we celebrate the life of Thomas Saleh Hishmeh, who entered into eternal rest on June 23, 2026, at the remarkable age of 94.

Born on January 15, 1932, in Jacksonville, Florida, Thomas held the distinction of being one of the first Palestinian Americans born in Jacksonville. He witnessed the remarkable growth of the Arab American community throughout his lifetime and dedicated himself to helping it flourish. As a young man, he became actively involved in the Jacksonville Arab Club, later serving as its president and helping lead the opening of the Ramallah American Club of Jacksonville. His commitment to preserving his culture and strengthening his community left a lasting impact that will be remembered for generations.

Thomas proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, where he was stationed on the front lines in the artillery.A man of deep faith, Thomas faithfully served as a board member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church and remained a devoted member of the Order St. Ignatius of Antioch throughout his life. His faith guided every aspect of his character and inspired the compassion and generosity with which he always treated others.

Thomas was also a successful businessman and entrepreneur, as well as a member of the Jacksonville chamber of Commerce. He owned and operated numerous businesses throughout Jacksonville over the years, including as a real estate broker, grocer, and ultimately the owner of Café Plaza, where he proudly served the community for more than 25 years before retiring. His work ethic and integrity earned him the respect of all who knew him.Above all else, Thomas was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. For over 65 wonderful years, he shared an extraordinary marriage with the love of his life, Vera Hishmeh, with whom he travelled the world with. Together, they built a family that became his greatest source of pride and joy while also sharing a love of travel and exploring the world.He is lovingly survived by his loving wife, Vera; his daughters and “honey bunches”, Nancy Jaghab (George) and Julie Ossi (Mike); his cherished sister, Elaine Salem; his proud grandchildren and “baby bugs”, Ryan Jaghab, Maryann Farhat, Lindsay Ramachandran, Tiffany Ossi, Michael Ossi, and John Ossi; and his three treasured great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews, each of whom brought immeasurable happiness to his life. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Lorraine Carroll; his mother, Julia Hishmeh; and his father, Toufic Hishmeh, all of whom he carried forever in his heart.Thomas often reflected on the richness of his life with remarkable gratitude. Though he experienced many blessings, he would say that material wealth never truly mattered. His greatest treasure was his family. He often remarked that he was the luckiest man in the world because of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Watching them grow into kind, accomplished, and loving individuals filled him with immense pride and gratitude. Nothing compared to the joy they brought him.He will always be remembered for his unwavering kindness, endless patience, positive outlook, warm smile, impeccable style, and genuine love for people. Friends and strangers alike knew they could always expect the same cheerful response when asking how he was doing: “Tip Top.” That phrase became synonymous with the man himself—a reflection of his optimistic spirit and joyful approach to life. To many, he will forever be remembered affectionately as “Tip Top Tommy.”Thomas lived a beautiful life with dignity, generous compassion, and steadfast faith. He made everyone he encountered feel valued, welcomed, and respected.His legacy lives on through the family who love and admire him so deeply, and through the memories shared by all who were fortunate enough to know him. His gentle spirit will live on forever.Memory Eternal - لتكن ذكراه أبدية