Howard Tupper

Howard Thomas ("Tom") Tupper Died at home in his beloved community of Stinson Beach, CA, after a brief illness, on July 9, 2010. Tom was born on May 6, 1924 in Laurel, MT, to Warren Ernest Tupper and Ada Frances (Taylor) Tupper. He and his family moved to Seattle, WA in 1930 and he attended Queen Anne High School, graduating as salutatorian in 1942. He then began studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, but his education was interrupted in early Spring 1943 by World War II, necessitating his entry into military service (US Army Signal Corps in New Guinea) prior to completion of his college studies. After the War, he finished his undergraduate courses at the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1949, graduating magna cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa membership, He then attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, earning a Master of Science degree in chemical engineering there in 1952. Tom's career began with Chevron Corporation in Richmond, CA, and he soon thereafter joined Chevron's main offices in San Francisco. He met Ms. Janet ("Janie") Easterday while watching an Adlai Stevenson television debate in San Francisco with friends in late 1952. They soon discovered that they had a lot more in common than politics, quickly fell permanently in love and were married in Menlo Park, California, in March 1953. Their first daughter, Susan, was born in 1955, and their second daughter, Julie, in 1956. Tom and Janet lived in Terra Linda (in the first Eichler home built in that area) until 1966, at which time they moved to Stinson Beach, where they designed and built their dream home, nestled into a hillside, overlooking the ocean. They raised Susan and Julie there, and lived in this home together for forty-four years, Tom's chemical engineering career at Chevron was highly satisfying for him, and he worked there until his retirement in 1988 at the age of 64, having been promoted to the position of Vice-president for Industrial Relations for Chevron U.S.A. in 1978. However, his love of his family and friends, of his home and its surrounding beach community, and of all variety of outdoor activities, formed the elements of his deeper loves. He cherished the natural beauty of the California and Oregon landscapes and wildernesses, hiked indefatigably in Yosemite and in the Sierra (especially the Salmon Lake area) with Janie, Susan, and Julie, skied with family and friends at Mount Bachelor, Oregon, year after year, and actively supported environmental stewardship long before such a style became popular. In later years, Tom hiked the "Mount Tam" area and surrounding terrain on a regular basis with lifelong friends. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister Margaret Farwell, of Seattle, WA. He is survived by his wife, Janet, of Stinson Beach; his daughters Susan Gutmann of Ukiah, CA and Julie Ott and her husband Jeff of San Diego, CA; his brother Jim Tupper and his wife Sylvia, of Seattle, WA; his grandchildren Luke Gutmann of Ukiah, CA and Monique Peters and her husband Byron, of Longview, WA; and his great grandchildren Eva and Byron Peters. Tom was a sensitive, kind, and compassionate man. His love of scientific investigations was balanced by his deeply humanistic philosophy of life. He exhibited generosity of spirit and dedication to principle, and held himself to the highest of personal standards. He was as gentle on the outside as he was strong on the inside. He treasured the beauties and the balances of Nature, and worked to protect and preserve their existence in his daily life. He was the dearest of men and the best of role models. We are all so very fortunate to have known him. Consistent with Tom's wishes, no formal memorial services are planned. Arrangements under the direction of Adobe Creek Funeral Home 331 Lakeville St.; Petaluma, CA 94952. Online condolences may be made at adobecreekfuneralhome.com Cheda & Lyons - Directors 707-789-9000