Thomas Fagan Liegler

Widely respected expert in public arena and stadium management, deeply devoted family man, and lifelong Angel fan - passed away from natural causes on February 20, 2023 at his home in Palm Springs, CA surrounded by family. He would have turned 95 in March.

Tom was born in Racine, Wisconsin on March 24, 1928, growing up amid four generations of the Liegler family. He enlisted in the Navy in May 1945 at the end of WWII and was stationed in Oakland, California at an airlift base whose mission, "Keep 'Em Flying", was to keep men, machinery, and supplies moving across the Pacific. After returning home, he enrolled at Grinnell College in Iowa, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Euthenics. At Grinnell, he was a member of the football and debate teams.

Tom married the love of his life, Joyce Langmade, in January 1955 and shortly afterwards began his career with the Waterloo Whitehawks, the Triple A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox (very shortly indeed; Tom and Joyce spent their honeymoon preparing the White Sox spring training facility in Florida, giving Joyce an early initiation into how Tom would combine his love of work, baseball and family into the energetic and enthusiastic ethos that defined his life). Tom later moved into the management suite of the White Sox, focusing on stadium operations. In 1962, he was hired by the Houston Colt 45's baseball team, and became a central participant in the club’s transformation into the Houston Astros and the building of the world-famous Astrodome. The peak of his career came in 1965, when he was lured west by Gene Autry, owner of the then Los Angeles Angels, to oversee the design and construction of the team’s sparkling new home, Anaheim Stadium. For more than twenty years – as Anaheim and Disneyland helped make Orange County one of the world’s leading destinations for vacations, conventions and sporting events – Tom directed operations not only at the Big A, but also Anaheim Convention Center, and the city’s two golf courses. Later in his career, he worked as a consultant around the world, on stadium and convention center projects in San Diego, Ontario, Sao Paulo, Sydney, and Paris.

Tom’s love of family and faith was of utmost important in his life. He and Joyce raised three children, Scott, Teri, and Tracy. The Liegler home was lively with pets, scout activities, skit nights, and the family rarely missed an Angels game. His children continued to bless him with spouses and grandchildren. He is survived by his son Scott (Hilary), daughter Tracy Albrecht (Lance) and son-in-law Terry London, as well as grandchildren Laura, Lindsay, Emma, Mhairi and Spencer. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce and his daughter Teri.

Tom was grateful for his Creator and his strong Catholic faith, his family, and his country which continues to be a land of opportunity.

A memorial will be held at noon on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Anaheim Hills Golf Course, 6501 E Nohl Ranch Rd, Anaheim, CA 92807. Contact family for more information at [email protected]

He will be buried alongside Joyce at Ascension Cemetery 24754 Trabuco Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630 at a date to be determined.

“May you live all the days in your life.”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tridentsociety.com/location/palm-desert-ca for the Liegler family.