Thomas F. Campos was one of the best horsemen O'ahu has ever known — a world-class polo player who could breed, break and train horses with the best, according to friends and family.

"At one point he had a connection to just about every polo player on the island," said Debra Kaae, the youngest of Campos' three daughters. "He never lost his love for polo or working with horses. It's been said many times that he was one of them because he knew horses so well, better than anyone."

Campos died at his Kailua home on Sept. 29 at age 84 after a fight with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His wife and other family members were with him at the end.

"He kept his wit and humor to the end, but in his last few days, he was communicating by blinking his eyes and squeezing hands," Kaae said. "The day he died his breathing changed. At about 6:10 p.m. I leaned over and told him how much I loved him and we'd all be OK when he was ready to go, to be at peace with himself and how proud I was to be his daughter. … He took two deep breaths and he was gone."

Campos' polo legacy started with matches at Kapi'olani Park and took him to the Philippines, Japan and other parts of the world to play and teach. He was active as a player and trainer until he suffered a back injury in 1969 while branding cattle at the family's ranch.

That year, Campos Dairy merged with Foremost Dairy after more than 50 years of operation in what is now Enchanted Lake in Kailua.

He needed surgery after the injury, and though he seldom rode after that, he remained active in the polo and horse community.

"If you know anything about horses or polo in Hawai'i then you know Tommy Campos," reads the www.honolulupolo.com Web site. "In Hawai'i he is beyond whispering, it is all telepathy for him. Everyone playing today has been his student, players and ponies."

Since 1992, O'ahu polo players have held an annual Campos Cup tournament to honor his contributions. Despite his poor health, Campos was able to attend part of this year's tournament, Kaae said.

"It meant a lot to him," she said.

Campos was born July 17, 1924, in Waikiki and was an infant when his father moved his family to Kailua and started the Campos Dairy in 1925.

Though he attended Saint Louis School, he never graduated. He grew up riding a family range that spanned about 2,000 acres and had about 1,500 cattle at its peak.

"He was a man's man and he was a fighter to the end," Kaae said. "In 2001 he had colon cancer and survived that. In 2004 he had a stroke and completely recovered.

"He was a smoker his whole life. I think that's how the chronic pulmonary disease finally got to him. About two months ago he said 'this is my last roundup.' Last month he said 'I'm sleeping on my saddle and my horse is dead.'"

Campos is survived by his wife, Edith; daughters Pam McCreadie, Sharon Gabriel and Debra Kaae; 11 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.

His funeral will be Monday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Kailua, which sits on land that Campos' father donated 75 years ago.

Visitation will be 8:30 to 11 a.m., followed by a eulogy and Mass at 11 a.m. and entombment at 1 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park.