Thomas Holleran Neale

I am a professor of French history asked to teach a class on American Government. My students are preparing essays and presentations regarding the Electoral College and what to do with it, if anything. I prepared by reading Tom´s report on Electoral College Reform, which he updated in 2009. I was, and am, thoroughly impressed. So clear, so nuanced, and objective. I wish I could have met him and got to know him.

I met Tom back 2011 when moving into the condominium he resided in. He had a wealth of information about most everything concerning the condo. Tom was always generous in providing information and solutions to situations we encountered. Despite Tom working long hours he took time to promptly address questions we had. More importantly, Tom was kind and respectful always and that made it easy to engage with him. He will be missed.

I worked with Tom at the Library of Congress for many years. He was always kind and fun to be around. Tom never said no when we asked him be the Santa Claus during the Holidays. He was awesome at it! He would enter the room with a jolly laugh and smile. He made the children and everybody else smile. I retired from the Library in December 2022. I called Tom a couple months before I retired. I asked him to make the toast at my retirement. He said, okay, I´ll do it. Tom had a...

Tom was such a wonderful person, someone I was always delighted to see and felt honored to know. He was a true gentleman in the very best sense of that word. I worked in a different part of CRS, so did not see him as often as I would have liked, but when we did meet, he always found a way to make time for a wonderful conversation. He and a few other colleagues were paragons of what true public service at CRS is all about. I will remember him always with great fondness and gratitude. I regret...

Tom, it's so hard to believe you have left. You had a way of leaving people smiling, or thinking, no matter the situation. The world is, alas, a drearier place. Peace my friend.

I have had the pleasure of Tom's wit and friendship since grade school. Everything from Boy Scouts, Latin class, playing on his back porch to fine dining in our DC area. Our birthdays were a day apart, and I would never let him forget that I was the oldest (although he was probably the wisest). We shall miss him.

Tom was a unique individual in the best sense of the word. He was extremely erudite, and deeply knowledgeable about a broad range of history, to put it mildly. I always enjoyed our conversations and will treasure his emails on topics of mutual interest. He is to be remembered for his impressive tenure with the U.S. Library of Congress and I will remember him as my friend.