Resident Feature

Meet the Loaries

Live Right, Do Good

If you’ve never met Thomas Loarie, there’s a chance you might recognize his voice. He co-hosts a radio show called The Mentors Radio, which airs Saturdays on the Salem Radio Network in California (KTRB AM860) and worldwide, on iHeart Radio. “We are now in our fifth year. We feature guests from all walks of life, from well known CEOs, authors, drug dealers, to a former movie star who just celebrated her golden jubilee as a nun. I was selected to be a host based on several factors: I am one of Amazon.com’s top book reviewers, my role as program director for the Oakland Diocese’s Catholics@Work Speakers Series over the past 20 years, and my ongoing work as co-leader with SING, a transition ministry of St. Isidore Catholic Church, which is focused on helping those in career transition. All of this experience has provided me with access to people from all over the world, has kept my feet on the ground and has provided balance in life,” says Tom.

Tom and Patty were introduced by mutual friends while Patty was visiting the Bay Area. Based in Florida, she visited family in the Bay Area every year. “We both knew instantly that there was something special about the other when we met. Once we met, we were inseparable, and we were married on Valentine’s Day,” says Patty.

Kristin Loarie Soule family (7) recently had their second son, Luke, receive the Eagle Scout award. The oldest, Zachary, also achieved Eagle Scout and two others, Stuart and Caden, are working towards it. The picture provided is a recent picture of the family at the recent Eagle Scout awards presentation. They live in Stevenson Ranch, CA, near Valencia and right next to Magic Mountain. Husband Kevin is the son of Anita and Sandy Soule who live right around the corner from us in Hidden Oaks. Kristin, as Tom, lived in Hidden Oaks from adolescence through college. Kristin was a cheerleader at Monte Vista and served in student government there as well as being elected Homecoming Queen in her senior year.

Tom was living as a single parent in Hidden Oaks, where he moved to take a job based in Alameda. “I originally looked in Orinda, but I ended up choosing Hidden Oaks for its intimate neighborhood feel, and closeness to tennis courts and a swimming pool. I moved in 1984 and loved how the neighborhood reminded me of my hometown in Deerfield, Illinois.

This was during the very early building stages of the Blackhawk Country Club. Back in those days, a Blackhawk Club membership cost homeowners $150 per month. Swim meets for kids were held at the pool near the tennis courts, and it was the center of much neighborhood activity.

Peter Smith, Pat’s oldest son, family (6) lives in Wellington, Fl, near West Palm Beach. Peter is a Captain at Jet Blue and served until recently in the US Air Force Reserve and retired as a Lt Colonel. Peter flew in combat in the Middle East and flew both the A10 (Warthog) and F16. His oldest daughter, Erika, is a 1st Lt in the USAF. Peter and his wife, Terry, lived with us for six months when Peter began flying for United Airlines. They eventually landed in Benicia, then moved to Florida after 9/11 where Peter began his time as an F16 pilot.

Patty and Tom formed a blended family when they married, and the focus of their lives has always been their children and now their grandchildren. The couple has four children and thirteen grandchildren. Patty’s two sons have served as fighter pilots flying A10s, F16s and the F35. They currently live with their spouses and children in Florida and Virginia. Tom’s two children, a son and a daughter (who married the “Soule boy” around the corner in Hidden Oaks), live with their spouses and children in El Dorado Hills, CA and Stevenson Ranch, CA.

Seeing their grandchildren growing into productive and responsible adults has given them great joy. “One granddaughter has graduated from the University of Florida, has married and is serving in New Mexico with the United States Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant. One grandson has just graduated from the University of Florida. Three other grandchildren are in college – University of California at Berkeley; Florida State University; and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Three are in grade school and the rest are in high school. We have swimmers, soccer players, rowers, basketball players, and gymnasts. All are adventurers. With the children grown, our travel now revolves around visiting with them and our grandkids.”

David Smith, Pat’s youngest, and his family (4) live in McLean VA. David is the only one of the four that has not spent any residential time in Hidden Oaks. All the others are alumni. David is still in the USAF reserves where he serves as a General and is assigned to CENTCOM. Before moving to the DC area, David was the Commander of the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB (Ogden, UT) where he supported the operationalization of the F35 which he and the Wing flew. David also served in combat.

Patty’s family lived in Manasquan, NJ (the shore) and she was born at a hospital in Asbury Park, NJ. Her career, with stints in sales at IBM, DEC, OC Tanner, and IKON, revolved around building relationships and serving others. Many client relationships became friendships. Patty also worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines. “I resigned after 9-11. The fateful Flight 93 to Newark and back was her regular route. I once flew as an attendant on a plane piloted by my son, which was very special,” says Patty. Until she retired, she helped people find their dream homes, working as a realtor with J. Rockcliff Realtors in the Blackhawk office. “I loved working with my clients. Years of competitive swimming combined with my extensive sales experience provided the discipline to successfully navigate the process of selling/finding and securing the perfect home,” says Patty. She was active in the Masters Swimming program, beginning her association with the group in Miami shortly after its creation.

Tom grew up in Chicago and began his career as an engineer in aerospace, then moved into healthcare. “My 45+ years in healthcare includes 13 years with American Hospital Supply Corp (now Baxter) where I gained valuable experience before being named President of AHSC’s Heyer-Schulte, which focused on Class III medical implants. I was then hired by the famed venture capitalist Tom Perkins to begin a career creating and growing new medical products companies here in the Bay Area. I have been involved in bringing over 20 new products to market across thirteen medical domains within biotherapeutics, medical technology, and connected health. Furthermore, I currently serve as co-founder, CEO and board member for BryoLogyx Inc.; and as chairman of the board for the ReFocus Group,” says Tom. He has lectured and written extensively on medical technology innovation and its implications for health care public policy, including articles in the Wall Street Journal, Royal Academy of Engineering World Technology Update, the Journal of Applied Manufacturing Systems and the Journal of Refractive Surgery.

The past year has seen Tom and Patty home more than ever due to COVID restrictions, but Tom says it has given them the opportunity to appreciate their beautiful neighborhood, take walks and engage with neighbors, “We like the peace and quiet our neighborhood affords, the access to Mt Diablo State Park, and the high-quality schools. We had not really gotten to know our new generation of neighbors until recently, as our children have grown and gone, and we have had several generational shifts over the years. COVID, however, was a game changer as we could no longer go to the gym for exercise and began a very disciplined program of walking. We have met many of our neighbors since we began this over the past year and have gained a nickname of ‘the hat people’ due to the variety of hats we sport as we walk.”


Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at mscott@bestversionmedia.com.

By Megan Scott, Resident since 2010