James William Thomas

In Loving Memory of Our Uncle On behalf of the Tello family, we want to say thank you. We love you, Uncle, and we will miss you dearly. But we find comfort in knowing that one day, we will see you again in Paradise. As young children, my twin brother and I always heard stories about how generous and giving Uncle and Auntie were. They did so much for my mom when she first came to California. My mom lived with them for a time, and they even hosted my parents’ wedding at their home in Woodland Hills. It seemed that whenever we saw Uncle, there was a reason to celebrate. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, birthdays, graduations, and weddings were all opportunities for him to spend time with the people he loved. And there were also the quieter moments—simply enjoying each other’s company, usually over a wonderful meal at their home in Thousand Oaks, prepared by Auntie, or going out to eat in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Malibu. No matter where we were, Uncle was always generous, warm, and giving. Most importantly, he was always surrounded by the people he loved. My parents thought so highly of Uncle that they named me after him—Ryan James. And that name has continued to carry meaning in our family. My son, Jacob James, who just turned 13, was also given the name James in his honor. I recently turned 50 this year. Within just a few months, my Dad went to Heaven, and now my Uncle has joined him. Two great men. Two incredible role models. Two lives that touched so many people. Dad and Uncle will forever be remembered, forever loved, and forever missed. Until we meet again in Paradise, Uncle. We love you.