Thomas Jose Bustillo

Thomas Bustillo, or Tota to us, will be dearly missed by family and friends. At 98, he passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on November 27th, 2025. Thomas was born in 1927, in Cartagena, Colombia, where he spent his childhood. In his youth, he enjoyed playing baseball, basketball, boxing, swimming, and running. He studied architecture at Universidade do Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. In Rio, he met and married Elisabeth, his best friend, partner, and love of his life. Thomas and Elisabeth moved to Colombia where they lived for several decades, before finally relocating to the US. In Colombia, he worked in marketing and sales of high-rise condominiums. Thomas was also a very active member of the Rotary Club for many years. Finally, in the US, he sold annuities for the Latin American markets, winning many accolades, including American Bankers Insurance Man of the Year. Thomas was a devoted and hard-working family man. He was a role model, not only to his daughters, but also to many of his nieces and nephews, who admired his optimism, sense of humor, work ethic, resilience, and outgoing nature. He maintained close ties with them throughout his life.

Thomas is survived by his daughters: Amelia (Jim) Gerlach, Marta (John) Daley; grandchildren: Sandy (Mark) Aronson, Kevin Daley, Laura (Scott) Ulrich; great-grandchildren: Henry, Heidi, and Elise Gerlach (and their mother, Susan Gerlach), and Dean, Bennett, and Gordon Aronson; sister: Beatriz Sink. He is also survived by a large and close extended family. Thomas is preceded in death by his wife, Elisabeth; his parents, Jose Maria and Amira Bustillo; grandson, Paul Gerlach; siblings, Judith (Eduardo) Velez, Rafael (Gladys) Bustillo, and Orlando (Muriel) Bustillo.

On December 11th, 2025, at 1:00 PM, there will be a Funeral Mass an inurnment at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church in Cumming, GA. Reception to follow at the family residence.