Thomas "Tom" B. Miano

Thomas Bart Miano, 60, of Oswego, New York, passed away on September 26, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, one of his all-time favorite places. He was born on June 19, 1966, in Fulton, New York to Barbara (Wiltse) and Bart Miano, and grew up as a proud member of the Hannibal and Oswego communities.

If you knew Tom, you knew that describing him simply as a “good guy” seemed simultaneously like the most accurate description and incredibly inadequate. He was genuinely kind, endlessly generous, incredibly humble, and one of those rare people who seemed to make friends wherever he went. He had a sincere smile that was nearly impossible not to return, and a way of making everyone around him feel comfortable and at ease. Tom never needed to be the center of attention. He was often the quiet guy in the room in his signature khakis and tucked-in T-shirt, but behind that simple appearance was a brilliant mind, an incredible sense of humor, and a truly enormous heart.

Tom’s roots were in agriculture. He grew up working on his family’s muck farm and became deeply involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America throughout his childhood and teenage years. After graduating from Hannibal High School in 1984, he attended SUNY Cobleskill, where he earned an associate’s degree in horticulture.

He had a lifelong passion for all the earth had to offer and loved nothing more than sharing what he knew with anyone who was interested. In 1988, Tom started his own business, Miano Landscaping & Mowing, which he proudly owned and operated for decades. A familiar sight around town on his red Ferris mowers during the summer and behind the wheel of his red pickup trucks, plowing through the snow in the winter, Tom was always ready with a smile and a wave when you drove by. Over the years, he had many employees, but somehow had a way of making even the hardest day of manual labor feel like anything but work. To the people who worked alongside him, a day with Tom often felt less like a day on the job and more like being out for a ride with your best friend. He talked, taught, joked, and made everyone feel like they were part of something. He took pride in his work, but just as much pride in the people who worked beside him.

Tom’s interests were infinite, but he was truly invested and passionate about each and every one. He could talk sports, history, travel, trivia, weather, agriculture, or just about anything else you could think of. He loved NASCAR and the Dallas Cowboys, blackjack and scratch-offs, and finding the best hidden gems wherever he traveled. He was an excellent planner and somehow always seemed to know the best places to go and the best things to see.

Tom was an accomplished bowler, rolling three perfect 300 games throughout his career on the lanes. He made cherished, lifelong friendships with his bowling teammates, through his involvement with race teams at Oswego Speedway, and as a member of the Beer Can Collectors of America. His impressive beer can collection was a reflection of the enthusiasm and attention to detail that he brought to everything he loved.

Tom brought that same excitement and attention to detail to simple, everyday moments and to creating magical holiday memories. He loved Halloween and took great pride in handing out full-size candy bars to the neighborhood kids, keeping a diligent tally of exactly how many trick-or-treaters came to his door each year. While he often waited until Christmas Eve to do his shopping, he somehow always managed to choose the most thoughtful gifts and every present was wrapped with precision by morning. Tom had a special way of showing just how much he cared through the little details.

More than any hobby, accomplishment, collection, or interest, Tom’s greatest gift was the way he cared for people. Tom had a special way of taking people under his wing without them even realizing it. He saw potential in others and quietly helped guide many toward successful futures. He never judged, always showed up, remembered the things that mattered to people, and would do just about anything for anyone without expecting anything in return. No matter how busy life became, Tom always found a way to keep in touch, never letting distance, time, or the demands of everyday life get in the way of the relationships that mattered to him.

In 1994, Tom met Kathy (Hoefer), and from that point forward, she became his partner in all of his adventures. Together they built a life filled with travel, laughter, shared interests, and countless memories. They (finally!) married on October 29, 2010, eloping to Las Vegas for a wedding that was so perfectly “Tom & Kath.” Kathy was not simply his wife; she was his teammate, partner, and best friend.

Tom was especially proud of being an uncle. He took that role seriously, and his nieces and nephews were lucky enough to experience childhood through Tom’s eyes. He had a remarkable ability to turn an ordinary day into an adventure. A drive around town to look at Christmas lights became an event. A 12-plus-hour day at the New York State Fair was something to look forward to. There were trips to Disney World and DC, days spent picking apples and blueberries, and endless quizzes about state capitals, math facts, and whatever other bit of knowledge Tom had decided they needed to know.

Tom made memories on purpose. He wanted the kids in his life to have fun, to learn something, to see something new, and most of all, to know that they were loved. Those are the kinds of childhood memories that stay with a person forever, and the values they will strive to pass on to their own children in Tom’s memory.

Tom leaves behind his beloved wife, Kathy; his mother, Barb; his brother, Jim; sister- and brother-in-law, Tammy and Mike Byrne; brother- and sister-in-law, Bob and Sue Hoefer; nephews, Brandon Miano and Kaleb and Logan Raufer; nieces, Mary (Justin) Koskowski and their children, Anna and Eli; Katie (Ben) Patnode and their children, Conner and Lyliana; and Kristen (Samantha Todd) Hoefer and their children, Caroline and Graham Maxon; nephews Cameron (Liz) and Noah (Bree) Byrne; goddaughter, Karissa Leonard; along with aunts, uncles, cousins, and a lifetime of dear friends who were fortunate enough to know him.

He was predeceased by his father, Bart Miano, and his mother- and father-in-law, Ed and Carol Hoefer.

Tom’s life was not defined by grand gestures, but by thousands of small ones: the person he helped without being asked, the answer he always seemed to have, the adventure he planned, the lawn he carefully mowed, the snow he faithfully plowed, the candy bar he handed to a child on Halloween, and the unmistakable smile that greeted the people he loved.

He was the kind of person people trusted. The kind of person people called. The kind of person who made the world around him a little better simply by being in it.

Tom was truly one of a kind. He will be remembered as a genuinely good man with a giant heart and an almost endless curiosity about the world. He loved deeply, gave generously, and found joy in more things than most people ever take the time to notice.

For everyone who loved Tom, the memories will be everywhere: in a red truck you pass on the road, a cup of chocolate milk you sip at the fair, a plane or space station you spot in the night sky, on a bowling lane, at the speedway, in a garden, around a blackjack table, or in the middle of some completely random question that only Tom would have known the answer to.

He will be missed more than words can say, but he will never be forgotten. Tom’s legacy is one that everyone who knew and loved him will proudly carry forward, keeping alive the kindness, generosity, curiosity, and joy he brought into the lives of so many.

Arrangements are in the care of Foster Funeral Home in Hannibal, NY. Calling hours will be held Monday, October 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13. Following the service, family and friends are invited to join us at Lighthouse Lanes in Oswego for a celebration of Tom’s life. We hope those who loved Tom, knew him, worked alongside him, learned from him, laughed with him, or simply crossed paths with him over the years will come together to share stories, memories, and one another’s company, the way Tom would have wanted it.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Tom’s memory to make a donation to EquiCenter NY. EquiCenter brings together horses, horticulture, nature, and educational experiences to create opportunities for children and people of all abilities.

Donations may be made online at https://givebutter.com/equicenter or by mail to:

EquiCenter, Inc.

William and Mildred Levine Ranch

3247 Rush Mendon Road

Honeoye Falls, NY 14472

A gift in Tom’s memory will help provide others with opportunities to learn, grow, connect with nature, and experience the kind of joy and curiosity that Tom spent his life sharing with the people around him.

To leave a special message for the family, please sign the guestbook.