Thornton Maxwell

Thornton ("Tom") O. Maxwell An Atherton resident, passed away peacefully at the age of 84, on October 6, 2010, after a long illness. Tom now joins his beloved wife, Jan, and his brother, The Rev. James Paul Maxwell. He is survived by his son, Gregory Maxwell, his daughter, Karen Woodward, his daughter-in-law, Leslie Maxwell, his sisters, Glynna Widdows and Barbara Cotter, his niece, Paula Maxwell, and his nephews, Ron Widdows, Dan Maxwell, Walter Cotter, Kevin Cotter, Kent Frame, Bruce Frame, Mark Frame and Gary Frame. Tom was born in Douglas, AZ. The family then moved to Richmond, CA, although Tom stayed behind to complete high school and then join the Army Air Corps as an instructor stationed in Texas during World War II. After the war, he joined the family in Richmond and enrolled in the newly started San Francisco State School of Communications and Dramatic Arts, headed by Fenton McKenna whom Tom greatly admired and looked up to as a mentor. This was the start of his lifetime interest in theatre and everything associated with it. He served as Artistic Director of the Marines Memorial Theatre and had regular appearances in regional and local theatre productions. While vacationing in Yosemite National Park, he met Geraldine Shearer, whom he married in 1955 and had two children. During the ensuing years, Tom founded and served as President of A&B Garment Delivery and President of California Trucking Association. When various elements forced his company out of business, he moved to Nevada in the role of a VP of Comstock Tunnel and Drainage. He kept active in theatre while in Carson City, including acting with local players. Through his various contacts in the theatre world, he was introduced to "The Family," a performing arts men's club, where he served as a long-time member, doing one of his favorite things: bonding with other members of the community. Because of his knowledge of theatrical disciplines, he embarked on his role in "The Family" as a second career, tirelessly writing, directing and acting in dozens of plays and spoken word soliloquies. He would work from night to dawn on the details of scripts, costumes, make-up and lighting of plays, yet was known for his calm demeanor in the middle of chaos. Through contacts in "The Family," Tom integrated his two passions - business and theatre - and took over Stagecraft Studios, a costume and lighting business in Berkeley. Through a contact in "The Family," Tom was introduced to and involved in the inception of Hospital de la Familia in Guatemala where he would go once a month despite the dangers of guerrilla warfare. His last thoughts about the Hospital say it all: "I hate to bend your ear like this, but I just love that place so much." Tom's other interests and achievements include serving as Commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club, member of the St. Francis Yacht Club, Board Member of San Francisco State, President of the downtown Kiwanis Club, and President and Board Member of the Mountain Play. Tom was an active and faithful member of the Unity Palo Alto Church. During a service, he met Janet Gates, where a conversation on his theatre production business led to a mutual attraction and marriage. They were an inseparable couple and worked together at the Hospital de la Familia, on the Mountain Play and on the Bracebridge Dinner in Yosemite each Christmas and many other projects over the next 27 years. Donations to Tom's memory may be made to "The Family Foundation," 545 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA, 94108. A memorial will be held at Unity Palo Alto Church, 3391 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306, on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 12:00 noon.