Nemet Motors dealerships, employees and family members of Tom Nemet are feeling the loss of a great man who was not only widely respected in the industry, but also a visionary and inspiration to many.
JAMAICA, N.Y. – Nemet Motors is extending their sympathies to the family of Tom Nemet who died July 4, 2010, from an 18-month-long battle with cancer at the age of 76.
Without Tom Nemet’s contributions and influence, many people would not be driving the affordable import cars they own today.
Tom was a third-generation dealer who expanded the nearly century-old family business of Nemet Motors, founded in 1916, into Nemet Auto Group. Today Nemet Auto Group is comprised of the dealerships Nemet Kia, Nemet Hyundai, Nemet Volvo and Nemet Nissan.
Besides being dedicated to his family, friends and his business, Tom was also dedicated to being the voice for all hardworking Americans.
“He was the most passionate auto dealer in the country," said Scott Perlstein, Nemet Motors dealer Nemet Nissan general manager. “He made that evident by getting involved in federal politics to further the industry that was bigger than himself.”
For more than 30 years Tom Nemet was actively working to block regulations and legislation that would have priced cars and trucks out of the range ordinary Americans could afford. Through five different presidencies, Tom worked at the highest levels of government to ensure the American people would have access to affordable vehicles.
Tom encouraged Nissan to build vehicles in the United States, thereby creating numerous jobs for Americans. Domestic manufacturers were halted in enacting tariffs and other measures that would have prevented competition and prevented many people who were not able to own a vehicle from being able to purchase one.
Tom was also dedicated to his family and brought many family members into the business or supported their other pursuits. The Nemet name will always remain on the door so customers will feel confident Tom’s ideals will survive long after his passing, especially in Tom’s successor Scott Perlstein. The changeover will be a seamless transition as Mr. Perlstein has already been running the business for more than 10 years; he is committed Tom’s principles and the strong foundation Tom established.
Tom’s legacy will surely live on in his dealerships as Nemet Auto Group employees will continue his approach of always doing what’s right for their customers and how they conduct themselves as a business.
In an anonymous posting on Legacy.com someone wrote this of Tom:
“The world is now without one of the greatest. Tom Nemet touched everyone he came in contact with. He will be remembered as a person who cared and struggled with every conflict he encountered by wanting to do what was right. If we all followed the line of thinking the world would be a better place. If we all play the game by being self-serving we will never advance as far as he did. I only hope that we have learned from him and continue on in our lives with his extremely valuable lessons.”
Tom is survived by his wife Mary, sons Kyle, Todd, Ross and daughter Robyn; son-in-law Scott; daughter-in-law Suzanne; and grandchildren Harrison, Jordan, Joshua, Matthew, and Rachel.  
Tom’s funeral was held Wednesday, July 7th 2010, at Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapel 114-03 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, New York 11375 (718) 363-7600.
To read more about Tom’s work in Washington, D.C., and Nemet dealerships, visit http://www.nemetautos.com/