Thomas George Walsh

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Yale University

Thomas Walsh Obituary

Thomas George Walsh (65) Thomas George Walsh passed away on January 17, 2010 in Long Beach. Tom was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 30, 1944 to Dr. Frederick and Alice M. Walsh. In 1950 the family moved to Long Beach, California, where his father associated with St . Mary's Hospital. Tom attended St. Matthew's and St. Barnabas schools before moving on to St. Anthony's High School, where he won many academic honors. Besides being a straight-A student, he was very active in sports, especially baseball, in which he was a weak-hitting but superb fielding second baseman. He also ran cross-country and pole-vaulted at St. Anthony's, played a decent game of golf, and was a keen surfer. In high school he took an interest in debating and journalism, including founding a news ma gazine written entirely in Latin. Tom entered Yale University in 1962, where he majored in English and took courses in Art. Among the several awards he won was the Yale Poetry Prize. He was well rounded, multi-talented and popular. While at Yale he was made a member of The Pundits, a group of social critics and humorists, and at the end of his junior year he was "tapped" for Berzelius, one of Yale's secret societies. He had offers to remain at Yale to do graduate study in three subjects: English, Art, and A rchitecture. But Tom wanted to be a writer, in particular a poet, and after graduation he pursued that dream, living briefly in San Francisco and New York City before returning to California. During this time, he gradually became incapacitated by the illness that prevented him from realizing his outstanding potential. Tom loved and was much loved by his parents, his siblings, and his nieces and nephews. He is survived by his brothers: Michael (Ginny) and Philip; and his sisters: Bernardine Curtin (Martin), Mary Walsh-Cole (Stan), and Heather Raasch (Bob). A memorial service will be held at Saint Barnabas Church, 3955 Orange Ave., Long Beach, on February 13th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom's memory to the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, 101 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach CA 90802.

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Published by Press-Telegram on Feb. 7, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Walsh

5 Entries

John Reidy

February 1, 2022

Has it been twelve years already since our friend Tom Walsh passed? I still think about him from time to time. I met him while I was working at Acres of Books--and that was twenty years ago. Our favorite mutual interest was, of course, books, about which he and I would discuss at great length. It was I who introduced him to the works of Colin Wilson, to which he became an instant convert. He used to talk a lot about his brother in law who owned a tugboat company. It wasn't until I attended Tom's memorial service that I learned it was Martin Curtin whom he spoke of. The Curtin clan were old friends of my family. Small world.

Michael Hall @317-987-1528

April 27, 2010

I am very sorry, that I missed the opportunity to come to California. And, get some coaching on my art career by Mr.Walsh. I did not know, that he had passed away. I am Michael C. Hall, from The University of Southern Illinois. I had graduated in 1988, and have my Masters of Arts. I was inspired by my art instructor and have been trying to locate him for many years. My instructor was Mr.Thomas George Walsh. I was going to ask him, for some directions on my stone sculpturing career, like how to market my work? How to link to other supporting networks including, the internet. And, also how to find jobs as a sculpture. I am very sad, to hear that I will not get to come to California to speak with Mr.Walsh. I am saddened, by the great lost the world has had to loose this man.

Sincerely:
Michael C. Hall

March 26, 2010

I met Tom while working at a coffee shop in downtown Long Beach and later got to know him very well while working at Acres of Books. He was a very intelligent man who turned me on to the great books I now hold dear. Like John Reidy stated, he indeed did have a profound effect on my life and outlook on art in general. These menial words cannot sum up the debt and gratitude I owe him. While he was a bizarre character his innate "humanity" shined through. A remarkable person I will never forget. I am saddened by his passing. His memory persists in my thoughts.

John Reidy

February 9, 2010

I got to know Tom during my brief career, working at Acres of Books from 2000 to 2003. We used to run into eachother fairly often, in coffee houses and such, in downtown Long Beach, whereupon we would sit for long periods of time, usually discussing our favorite common interest, books and literature. He had a profound effect in my life, and I will miss him.

Don Westenhaver

February 7, 2010

Tom and I were close friends at St. Anthony's, sharing classes and activities such as pole-vaulting, Latin Club, and CSF. We went our separate ways after high school, he to Yale and I to the seminary and Vietnam. I often wondered what he was doing and knew he would be excelling at whatever he tried. I am saddened by his death and wish we had stayed in touch.

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