REV. DR. THOMAS J. S. MIKELSON

Thomas inspired me in my work as a speech writer at Radcliffe College. He may not have known it, but he was influential in helping me become a writer and someone who is trying to live authentically.

All the wonder filled memories of years (1988-1992) came flooding back into my heart just now (9/2020) when I read about the April passing of Thomas in the "UU World."
I fulfilled a UU Ministry Internship at First Parish, Cambridge under the loving guidance of Rev. Thomas while at Harvard Divinity School. How grateful I am, always, that I was blessed with such a compassionate, forgiving, loving, brilliant, fun soul as a mentor. We lost touch as my Hospital Chaplain journey led me to...

I had the privilege of knowing Thomas Mikelson during a small window of my life in Iowa City in the ealy 1980's. I served as a volunteer pianist during the Sunday services. I was always impressed by Thomas' deep intellectualism and spirituality and deep appreciation for life. He had a great sense of humor. When I started playing the wrong hymn, or played at the piano with my three year old son running up to the piano and sitting by me on the bench, or if a child started to cry during his...

Thomas and Patricia were very special to our family. Thomas was a gracious and deeply caring leader at First Parish in Cambridge, and we admired his commitment to the members of the church. In 2000, Thomas officiated at our marriage renewal ceremony. It was an honor to know him. With love and deepest condolences,
Tasha, David, Mia and Leo Balsom

With love and deepest condolences. What a beautiful life.

Remembering Tom singing in the choir at the Church of Christ in Clarion, Iowa

Dear Patricia,
We are saddened by the loss of this remarkable man. He was compassionate and caring and was clearly made for his calling. Our parents, Ruth and Michael Bonfiglio, appreciated the sermons and the activism that Rev. Mikelson provided during his time at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Iowa City. Members of our family were honored to be at his invocation as minister in Cambridge and to have our brother, Robert, provide the music for the event. We wish the world was filled...

Thomas was a very important and beloved friend to me throughout my adult life. I first met him in 1970 in my freshman religion course at Cornell College, which he taught. For a class essay about our religious development, I wrote about being raised a Unitarian Universalist. At that time, Thomas (or Tom as we called him then) was in conversation with the Iowa City UU Church about becoming their new minister. Four years later, I decided to study to become a UU minister. Thomas and I developed a...