Mechanic Tom Valois built a 38-year career at Metro Transit, earning the right to a well-deserved retirement.

However, when that moment arrived, Tom found himself at a crossroads. Leaving wasn’t an easy decision because Metro Transit had become such an important part of his life.

“He loved his job,”  Danielle, his daughter, said. “He loved his coworkers. The people he worked with and the company he worked for meant the world to him.”

Sadly, Tom never got the chance to begin that next chapter.

Tom often considered his coworkers his second family, but his connection to Metro Transit started at home. His father built a long career in maintenance there before him, creating a path that Tom would eventually follow.

“My dad followed in his footsteps,” Danielle said. “They talked on the phone every day about Metro Transit. That was a really special bond they had.”

Even though Tom loved his work, it was never more important than being present for the people he loved. He showed up for his family in every way, even if that meant arriving in his Metro Transit uniform.

“He never missed a sporting event or any activity,” Danielle said. “He always made sure he was there.”

Some of Danielle’s favorite memories are the simple traditions that showed who Tom was outside of work: weekends at the cabin, riding four-wheelers and ATVs together, annual trips to Florida, and caring for the animals he loved.

At Overhaul Base, coworkers knew Tom as “The Candy Man.” He kept a candy bowl by his work area, making sure there was always something available for anyone who stopped by. Every week, Tom made sure it was filled. After his passing, coworkers honored him with a candy bowl tribute, a symbol of the small gesture that built connections with the people around him.

“He was a generous man,” Danielle said. “It was about making other people happy.”