Thomas E. De Muyt, 79, passed away on February 6, 2024, after a multi-year battle with cancer at Bailey Community Hospice in St. Augustine, FL. He was born on June 29, 1944, in Chicago, IL, the third child of Francis De Muyt and Harriet (Lonski) De Muyt.
Tom graduated from St. George the Dragon High School, Evanston, IL, Class of 1962. His career began as an apprentice bricklayer and mason, contributing to the construction of some of Chicago's largest and tallest buildings, notably the John Hancock Center at 100 stories tall, completed in 1969. He relocated his construction business to Jacksonville in 1997 and oversaw the construction of notable projects including Merrill Lynch Building 4, Bartram High School, and the first Costco in Jacksonville. He retired at the age of 57 in 2001.
In 1964, he married his high school sweetheart, Rosemary DeBaere, whom he first met at age 15 in Winnemac Park, Chicago. Their romance blossomed as he served as an altar boy at St. Matthias, where they eventually exchanged vows. They shared 59 years of marriage, weathering both joys and challenges. She was the love of his life, and he hers.
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Rosemary (DeBaere) De Muyt; their two children, Joseph De Muyt and Joanne (De Muyt) Beech and her husband, Bud Beech; eight grandchildren, Beau Beech and his wife Emma (Porter) Beech, Olivia (Beech) Jabbour and her husband Sam Jabbour, Joseph P. De Muyt, Jacqueline De Muyt, Christopher De Muyt, Eve Beech, Spencer Beech, and Harold De Muyt; two great-grandchildren, Laura Jabbour and Penelope Jabbour; sisters, Jackie (De Muyt) McDaniel and Carol (De Muyt) Gruener and their familes; brother, Michael De Muyt, and his family. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his older brother, James De Muyt.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 am on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at St. John Paul II, 127 Stone Mason Way, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed by the following link, beginning at approximately 10:40 am https://youtube.com/live/1DUxj5nYz7w
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to St. John Paul II Capital Campaign via the links or mailed directly to the church, attention: TOM DE MUYT MEMORIAL.
