Thomas Hauserman | Sales engineer, 89

Thomas M. Hauserman of West Chester, a retired sales engineer and a father of nine, died of complications from a rare blood cancer Wednesday, Aug. 18, his 89th birthday, at Paoli Hospital.

Mr. Hauserman grew up in Cleveland in a family of nine children. He graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

During World War II, he served in the Coast Guard and met his future wife, Janet Cunningham, while stationed in Philadelphia.

After the war, he returned to Cleveland and joined his father's firm, E.F. Hauserman Co., which pioneered the manufacture and installation of movable interior walls for office buildings.

In the early 1950s, Mr. Hauserman transferred to the firm's Philadelphia office. He and his wife raised a family in Drexel Hill and Ardmore. She died in 1985.

In 1988, Mr. Hauserman married Elouise A. Smith, an accomplished skier. Though he was in his 60s, he took up the sport, said a son, Thomas, and continued to ski until three years ago. He enjoyed vacations in Vermont and travel, including European cruises.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Hauserman is survived by daughters Clare, Virginia, Gretchen, Janet, Jeana, Mary Lucy, and Loretta; another son, Joseph; three brothers; 21 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, 1325 Boot Rd., West Chester. Friends may call from 10 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken.