Thomas John Puzniak Jr., 53, of West Deer Township, formerly of Smithfield Virginia, passed away suddenly on March 8, 2014 while on business in London, UK. He was born October 5, 1960 in New Kensington, PA to Thomas J. Puzniak and Marie Kovalchick Puzniak.



Tom grew up in Dorseyville, PA and graduated from Fox Chapel High School in 1978. After high school, he attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL and received both a BS degree in Architectural Engineering and Civil Engineering in 1982. He also received a Masters of Business Administration from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA in 1988.





Tom began his career with Northrup Grumman, Newport News Ship Building, in Newport News VA, working on the design, overhaul, repair and delivery of nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers to the US Navy. He then joined the Consulting Practice of Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1989 as a Principal Consultant working to improve the process and operations efficiency of Naval and Military bases around the world. He was the recipient of Al Gore's Golden Hammer Award for Productivity and Process Improvement in Government. He joined Westinghouse, Cranberry Twp. PA in 2009 as a Project Manager responsible for the development of Nuclear Power Facilities. He was responsible for a project in the UK at the time of his death. Throughout his career Tom lived in numerous places around the country and the world including: Virginia, Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Washington, Texas, Maine, Japan and The United Kingdom.



Tom's leisure activities included swimming, scuba diving, sailing, skiing, and golfing. Tom was passionate about wood working, landscaping, and entertaining his family and friends. He had a gift for creatively designing & crafting his own homes and his spectacular gardens. Tom had a endless love and devotion to his family and friends always taking time to host holiday and special parties. He had room at his table for unexpected guests and would make time for everyone who called. Tom spent much of his life caring for others. We will always remember Tom for his endless energy and enthusiasm. All who knew him will miss his beautiful smile, contagious laugh, quick sense of humor, and his many practical jokes.



Tom is survived by his parents, Tom and Marie Puzniak, West Deer Twp.; his sisters Nancy (Bill) Lawrence of Wayne, PA and Karen (Oscar) Douma of Cranberry Twp; Nieces and Nephews Megan (Mark) Swanson of Santa Monica, CA, Lauren (Vito) Digilio of Philadelphia, PA, James Lawrence of New York NY, Ryan Brady of Pittsburgh, PA, and Rebecca Lawrence of Wayne, PA. He will be missed by numerous family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Andy and Susan Kovalchick and paternal grandparents John and Verna Puzniak.



Friends and relatives will be received 4 to 8 pm, Friday, March 28 at the Adam Siemianowski Funeral Home, 179 Starr Road, Russellton, West Deer Twp., Pa 15076. A mass of christian burial will be held 11 am, Saturday, March 29, at St. Victor Roman Catholic Church, 527 Bairdford Road, Bairdford, West Deer Twp. PA 15006. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Vincent de Paul in care of St. Victor Church, PO Box 149, Bairdford PA. 15006.