It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Tommy.

Tommy was a deeply beloved son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and friend. He loved his family fiercely, gave generously to those around him, and had a remarkable way of making everyone he knew feel like family. This spirit inspired the words he lived by and became known for: “Family Above All.”

An exceptional businessman and visionary, Tommy proudly carried forward his father’s storied wholesale toy business, Tom’s Model, while transforming it for a new generation. Through his passion, knowledge, and entrepreneurial spirit, he helped establish Tom’s Model as one of Southern California’s leading destinations for Funko Pops and collectibles, becoming a respected leader within the industry. One of his proudest accomplishments was earning Tom’s Model’s very own Funko exclusive, Golden Mushu—a figure whose message of courage, sacrifice, and devotion to family reflected the values he held closest to his heart.

Yet Tommy’s legacy is not measured solely by what he built for himself. He believed success meant creating opportunities for others and using what he had built to serve his community. Over the years, he guided, encouraged, and supported many small-business owners as they took their first steps toward building businesses and legacies of their own. He shared his knowledge freely, opened doors for others, and found the most happiness in seeing the people around him succeed.

Above all, Tommy was a devoted father to his daughter, Lily, who was truly the center of his life. Her arrival gave him a renewed sense of meaning and purpose, and when he was not working, his greatest joy was spending every second of every day with her. Golf held a particularly special place in Tommy’s heart because it was how he bonded with his own father. Throughout his life, Tommy and his dad maintained a treasured tradition of waking before sunrise every Sunday to play together. Wanting to share that same love and connection with Lily, Tommy regularly took her miniature golfing and encouraged her enthusiasm for the sport. Their bond over golf became so special that, at just three years old, Lily received a golf-influencer sponsorship—a proud reflection of the passion, traditions, and love Tommy hoped to pass on to her.

He also regularly supported holiday toy drives alongside the LAPD Central Division, bringing together customers, friends, and members of the collectibles community to provide toys for underprivileged children throughout Downtown Los Angeles. Under his leadership, Tom’s Model repeatedly received award recognitions from the City of Los Angeles for its “Service to the People of Los Angeles.”

Tommy’s generosity, leadership, loyalty, and love for others touched more lives than he may ever have realized. We hope he will be remembered not for the circumstances of his passing, but for the noble and meaningful life he lived—the family he cherished, the business he transformed, the children and community he served, the entrepreneurs he encouraged, and the countless people he uplifted along the way.

We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of prayers, kindness, and support. Out of love and respect for Tommy and our family, we kindly ask for peace, compassion, and privacy during this unimaginable time.

This GoFundMe has been created to support Tommy’s family and business as we work to honor his name and continue what he built. Please kindly reshare this post. Any contribution is deeply appreciated, but most of all, we ask that you keep our family in your prayers.

Thank you for standing beside us, for loving Tommy, and for keeping our family in your hearts as we take this one day at a time.

With love and gratitude,

The Yip Family