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James E. Thornton

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University of St. Thomas University of St. Thomas

FUNERAL HOME

O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral and Cremation Services - St. Paul

575 South Snelling Avenue

Saint Paul, Minnesota

James Thornton Obituary

-Thornton, James E. Of St. Paul, died peacefully on January 11th, 2005 surrounded by his family. Jim helped engineer one of the world's first supercomputers prior to starting a company that helped launch the computer networking industry. He attended Cretin High School and the University of Minnesota, and served in the US Navy during WWII. While at Control Data he helped build their first supercomputer and in 1974 co-founded Network Systems. He was known to the Twin Cities business community as a computer pioneer and technology entrepreneur; to his longtime friends as a loyal ally and bowling partner; to his children a loving father with a fine-tuned sense of humor; and a caring partner to Gloria, his wife of 53 years. He was born to Irish immigrants in St. Paul on September 25, 1925. During his career, he served on the boards of his High School, the University of St. Thomas, the University of Minnesota, and several technology companies. He was an active supporter of education, the Catholic Faith and childrens' health care causes. He is survived by: his wife Gloria; daughters Mary (Sid) Larson, Therese (Perry) Canton, and Brigid (Paul) Henry; sons Mike (Lynn Casey), Patrick (Leslie), James, and Brendan (Joan) all of the Twin Cities area; 15 grandchildren: one great grandson; and many wonderful friends and colleagues. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM Saturday Jan. 15th at THE CHURCH of ST. MARK, Dayton & Moore Aves. St. Paul. Interment Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation 4-8 PM Friday Jan. 14th at O'HALLORAN & MURPHY Snelling Ave. Chapel 575 So. Snelling Ave. St. Paul 651-698-0796. Memorials preferred to St. John Vianney Seminary.

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Published by Pioneer Press from Jan. 13 to Jan. 14, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for James Thornton

16 Entries

Julie Samsal Hipp

January 8, 2024

Miss you Jim. Miss your thoughtful caring of others. Miss your integrity and guidance. Miss your wit, humble intelligence and sweet soul. Network Systems is a computing legacy that's not in the history books, but in the hearts of all that cared and loved you forever! Love always, Julie

Julie Samsal Hipp

January 7, 2021

Remembering Jim's kind and humble heart which shaped my life and allowed God's love to flow through him to many people. I miss you.

Rob Peglar

January 17, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with the Thornton family, especially Therese and Perry. Working at two of Jim's companies, CDC and NSC, was a privilege, one I will not forget. Modern-day computing and networking owe a huge debt to Jim and his work. He will be greatly missed.

Mary Larson-Thornton

January 15, 2005

Thank you for all of the wonderful messages and memories of my dad. I am quite sure that he is thoroughly enjoying the fact that these messages are being sent to us via the internet. For those of you who haven't seen him for a while please find solace in knowing that his passing was very peaceful.

Peter Krueger

January 15, 2005

To James and his family, my prayers are with you. I was hired to worked at Network Systems in 1976 when NSC was just getting off the ground. We all will miss him.

Lisa Tyroll

January 15, 2005

Dear Gloria,

Jim will be greatly missed in St. Anthony Park. The twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his face said so much. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, now and in the days to come.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Ray Allard

January 14, 2005

Dear Gloria and Thornton family,

Jim was my boss at Control Data in the 60's, and we were in contact much longer than that. He did me the honor of allowing me to co-author an article with him that appeared in the Journal of the Association for Computing Machinery. He was a technical pioneer and an effective executive, but most of all he was a kind, generous, and inspiring mentor to everyone in his organizations.

I sat with him at a Control Data old timers' luncheon two years ago, and although his mental powers were by then diminished, he reminded me of my own dear mother, in that the kindness and loving nature that were the bedrock of his character, had survived all his tribulations.

God bless him and all of you.

Lizanne Pick

January 14, 2005

Dear Aunt Gloria and family,

While many people fondly recall Jim's brilliance and incredible knowledge of the computer industry, I knew him as a loving uncle and godfather. Uncle Jim was truly a gentle and kind man - someone I was always comfortable being around. I know how much my mom and dad respected, loved and admired him, too.

God bless all of you.

Love, Lizanne

elli and anoush ansari

January 14, 2005

Dear Mary and Sid, Sidney and Briana,

Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Mr. Thornton's many gifts live on through all of you and in knowing your family he has blessed our family too.

Elli, Anoush and Lily

Dan Conway Jr

January 13, 2005

Jim inspired me to interested in computers and information technology. He was friend and neighbor to my family growing up in St. Paul

John Jojade

January 13, 2005

Jim was the best employer, mentor, friend and kind person that I have had the pleasure to know. He will be missed.

Kathy Garcia-McDonough

January 13, 2005

Aunt Gog

Uncle Jim was a very special person

who we all loved. We will keep him in our hearts forever.

Julie Samsal

January 13, 2005

Dear Gloria and family,

My wholehearted condolences to you and all the Thornton children and families for the loss of your husband, father, grandfather, who was a great man and will be dearly missed.

He leaves behind not only a legacy in technology (from supercomputers to creating the world wide web), but also his humbling legacy to inspire, create and nurture—with wit, humor and respect and concern for others. Thank you for more than 30 years of being part of your family and for having had the honor to have “played” in his technological family (from CDC through Network Systems).

May the memories of yesterday

stay with you always,

bringing you comfort and peace tomorrow and forever.

With my deepest sympathy,

Julie Samsal

Tony Vacca

January 13, 2005

Mr. Thornton will always be remembered as a mentor and a leader in the Supercomputer Industry. He treated all he knew with respect and was admired by all who had the pleasure of working with and for him.

Jim was a delight to know and always provided a balanced perspective - no matter what the subject or urgency was.

My condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the family.

E. Douglas Larson

January 13, 2005

Gloria,

We extend our condolences and prayers for Jim, to you and your family from Arizona.

Jeanne Sommerfeld

January 13, 2005

I enjoyed and looked up to Jim Thornton when I worked for him and Lyle Altman from 1988 on. I was administrative support for Jim at Network Systems and helped in setting up Board Meetings along with the day-to-day business. Every day at lunchtime, off the group would go to lunch, Jim, Lyle, Gary Christensen, and Jerry Olson...they were quite a group! Jim was such a pleasure to work for and I was in awe of the respect and love he commanded by many. He was a dear man who contributed so much with his intelligence and so much kindness with his heart and humor.

My kindest respects to Jim's family.

Jeanne Sommerfeld

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