Thomas P. Rackowski, a former resident of Laguna Beach, has died at 69 years of age. He was attacked by intruders in his home in Belize, Central America, on Saturday, Feb. 13 [2016], and died on Monday, Feb. 15, after undergoing surgery. Arrests have been made and a trial is pending.

Rackowski was born and raised in Boston and played baseball, football and hockey in high school. Sports and reading became his lifelong passions. He attended the University of Massachusetts, and after his junior year decided to take an adventure and hitch-hiked to Berkeley, Calif. He got a job at a macrobiotic restaurant owned by Bill Schmidt, who became his friend. They traveled to the east coast, where Rackowski helped to build a ferro cement boat. Schmidt bought a 60-foot schooner in Canada and they sailed it to Rhode Island where it was sold to purchase property in Punta Gorda, Belize. This property became a guesthouse called Nature’s Way, and Rackowski later purchased a house for his retirement in the same neighborhood.

In the mid 1970’s, Schmidt returned to his hometown of Laguna Beach to work as a housepainter, and Rackowski came to Laguna to join in the business. He lived in Laguna for the next 20 years, with occasional periods in Belize. Rackowski’s painting skills combined with his gentle nature and outgoing personality gained him many loyal customers and friends.

In the late 1990’s Rackowski returned to Florida to accompany his mother to the Vatican for an audience with Pope John Paul. He soon moved to Florida to be the full-time caregiver for his aging mother. Luckily, Rackowski’s mom lived near a golf course, where he was happy to exchange gardening work for golfing privileges and bragging rights for his hole-in-one. This period exemplified his philosophy of making the best of life’s circumstances and never complaining. After his mother’s passing, he returned to Laguna in 2007.

For the next seven years, Rackowski resumed his painting business in Laguna, with the exception of a period of two years when he managed Riverside Farm in McMinnville, Ore. The farm housed students called WWOOF’ers (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) and Rackowski was a mentor to these young people. He was especially loved by the WWOOF’ers for his humor and stories of life in Laguna in the 1970’s, making their communal dinners a joyous event. The farm was a refuge for unwanted animals, and he took pride in his job of feeding and caring for the assorted goats, lambs, ponies and other livestock that lived on the farm. In 2014, he left Laguna with his belongings in his beloved pickup truck, bound for retirement in Belize.

The term “one of a kind” is an overused cliché, but it certainly describes Tom Rackowski. An intelligent, humble, and unpretentious man, with a hearty laugh, he was generous and fun-loving. In the rural villages of Belize, Rackowski was welcomed and respected by the native peoples as one of their own. In Laguna, this bear of a man was accomplished in tai chi, and was involved in local ecological groups. One day, he was painting the exterior of a house where the Dalai Lama was resting and preparing for a talk at UC Irvine. The Dali Lama noticed Rackowski and invited him into the house. They chatted together for hours. Rackowski had a heart of gold that was easily recognized by all.

Rackowski is survived by brothers Mike of Arizona, Ken of Massachusetts, and his sister Janice DeMasse of New Hampshire. He is remembered and loved by many near and far. A gathering to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, March 19, in Canyon Acres. If you would like to attend, please call Bob Borthwick, 949 494-5034, for details.

(Direct link to obituary)