Tom P. Lapsa

Dr. Tom Peter Lapsa died peacefully at home on September 21, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. He was a longtime resident of Frederick County who served the community for decades as an ophthalmologist.

Tom was born in Esslingen, Germany on January 26, 1948. He and his family spent his childhood in Germany as displaced persons due to the Soviet Union’s occupation of Latvia. Tom enjoyed many fond memories of his time there, especially summers spent exploring farms and nature in the Black Forest. 

Tom immigrated to the United States with his family in 1957 at age 9, first settling in Warren, Ohio. Although he did not get to be a cowboy and ride a pony to school like his favorite Western films had promised, Tom joyfully embraced his new country. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland as a teenager and discovered his love for the Orioles, Baltimore Colts, crabs, and Old Bay. He was an avid Boy Scout with Troop 77 (Baltimore) and attained the rank of Life. He graduated from City College High School in 1965.

Following high school, Tom attended Ursinus College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1969. Tom earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1973. He completed both his internship and residency in ophthalmology at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in 1977. This included additional training at Taxila Christian Hospital in Taxila, Pakistan. Throughout this time, Tom was also an active member of the Tervetia Latvian Fraternity in support of the local Latvian-American community. Following his medical education and training, Tom moved to Frederick, Maryland to open his private practice in 1977. He served patients as a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist for the next 42 years until retiring in 2019. 

Outside of his professional life, Tom had a great passion for nature and being outdoors. His face lit up while hiking, skiing, gardening, and spending time on Kezar Lake, Maine. A lifelong learner, he also enjoyed history, art, and foreign languages. In his retirement, Tom especially loved music, painting, following soccer, and spending time with his family. 

Tom’s family was his greatest pride and joy. Tom married the love of his life, Maureen, in 1983. Together they raised three children in Frederick County. Tom was a devoted father who delighted in taking on roles as a youth soccer coach, Boy Scouts leader, and church volunteer. He continued to cherish close relationships with his children into their adulthood. Tom was overjoyed to become Poppi to his first grandchild in 2017. 

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Peter; his mother, Gaida; and his brother, Janis. Tom is survived by his treasured wife, Maureen; his children, Kaytlin, Michael (Lindsey), and Julianne (Marek); his precious granddaughters, Hadley and Sayler; his brother, Paul (Jeanne); and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. 

A visitation will be held at Stauffer Funeral Home in Frederick, Maryland on Wednesday, October 2 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. The funeral mass will be on Thursday, October 3 at 11am at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Ijamsville, Maryland with reception to follow. The family invites guests to consider wearing bright colors, especially red, to honor Tom’s cheerful spirit.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Tom’s memory to CurePSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) or St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Ijamsville, MD.