Thomas Edgar Robitaille

Thomas Edgar Robitaille, 61 of Cumming Georgia passed away on March 31, 2019, while vacationing in Florida. Thomas was born in 1958 in Bridgeport Connecticut and was raised in Shelton Connecticut. As a young man, he enlisted in the US Army where he trained as a medic and EMT, and achieved the rank of Sargent before being honorably discharged. After his service to the country, he attended the University of Bridgeport where he graduated near the top of his class with a BA in Biology. In his professional life working for Olin, Arch Chemicals and most recently, Lonza, he was granted several patents for his scientific work in the application of lasers and for novel uses of antimicrobial compounds for commercial and industrial use. Many of his applications can be found in common household items and footwear. Throughout his career he authored numerous technical papers, traveling the world to present them in international forums. His unique, incredible gift to elucidate the details of his technical prowess, so everyone could understand, was unparalleled. He was considered a leading expert in his field of science and made a significant contribution to the world at large.

In 1993, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Ying Li. Together they settled down in Georgia, where their cherished son Edgar Li was born in February of 2004. Thomas was a dedicated family man. His hobbies included keeping in touch with old friends, he was a gifted musician and enjoyed playing bluegrass music, collecting and restoring musical instruments, woodworking and fine photography. His extensive travels, both through work and with family, provided Tom with a unique opportunity to capture the far reaches of the world with his lens. He was an incredibly energetic (partly because of his love for coffee), fun-loving, and multi-talented man who loved his country, his family, and his friends.

Thomas is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy(Ying Li) Robitaille, and son, Edgar Li Robitaille, siblings Robert Robitaille and Mary Jane Robitaille.

He is preceded in death by his parents Edgar & Elizabeth Robitaille.

Funeral services will be in the chapel of McDonald and Son Funeral Home on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at 10am. A reception will follow in the community room of the funeral home following the service and interment with Military Honors will be at 1:30pm at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.

Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.

Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899