OBITUARY

Tariq Malik

Tom Savas, a Huntington Beach building inspector, died April 11 from

injuries sustained in a Yorba Linda car accident. He was 42.

An Anaheim native, Savas began working for the city in 1998 when he

was hired as a nonpermanent contract inspector. His performance was so

outstanding, city officials said, that he was hired on as a permanent

employee in April 2000.

“All of [those] who knew Tom, knew what a quality person he was, and

that he will be sadly missed,” said Ross Cranmer, the city’s director of

building and safety.

Before working in Huntington Beach, Savas owned and operated his own

plumbing, heating and air conditioning business, which made him a prime

candidate for the city’s Building and Safety Department.

Savas’ friends and co-workers said he had a smile and kind words for

those around him, and loved cars and motorcycles.

“He used to take motorcycle rides,” said Tom Graham, an inspector

supervisor and friend. “Once, he left on a 2,000-mile ride to New Mexico,

leaving at 5 p.m. Friday and getting back by Monday morning.”

Savas was killed after his car collided with the vehicle of Officer

Charles Croix of the Brea Police Department. His mother Sophia, a

65-year-old Yorba Linda resident, was also killed in the crash.

Savas’ two nieces, Samantha Chenko, 11, and her sister Carissa, 9, who

were riding in the back seat of his vehicle, were injured in the accident

and remain in fair condition.

Croix suffered hip, neck and wrist injuries.

Funeral services for Savas and his mother were held Wednesday in the

Greek Orthodox Church, 5761 E. Colorado St., Long Beach.