Thomas John Totushek

1932 - 2015

Thomas John "Tom" Totushek was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 11, 1932, the only child of Thomas John and Annabelle Madsen Totushek. He graduated from Washburn High School, Minneapolis, in 1950 and the University of Minnesota in 1957, majoring in Russian language and area studies. He served in the United States Army for two years stateside and in Korea. Following his college graduation, Tom enrolled in graduate courses at the University of Seattle, Washington, and was recruited there for employment at the National Security Agency in 1958 where he worked in the Russian cold war problem until his retirement in 1993. During his tenure at NSA, he pursued graduate studies in the Russian language, attending Georgetown University, DC, and the intensive Middlebury College, Vermont, total immersion program in language during a summer live-in experience at the Russian House. It was at NSA that Tom met Sarah Black Shumpert who had been recruited there for her language skills in 1961. Russian was new to her, however, and his helping her with the NSA crash course into the language was the beginning of their relationship, leading to their marriage in 1963. They shared 52 memorable years together as husband and wife. Tom was passionate about travel from the time he became aware of the intriguing world around him, taking summer excursions with his friends to northern Minnesota and beyond once he owned his first car. He travelled in all 50 states, eight Canadian provinces and the Yukon Territory, 22 European countries, to seven Caribbean islands, Bermuda, Mexico and Central and South America, covering four continents. A highlight of his travels was attending an after-hours small group tour of four of the five buildings of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg followed by a concert by the Hermitage orchestra in 2008. Other outstanding travel memories are his 1995 Russian numismatic odyssey and a 1999 trip to the Czech Republic and Prague where his Bohemian heritage originated. Tom's interests kept him fascinated with all that life has to offer during his entire life. He developed a deep love for classical music early and was a subscriber to the Baltimore Symphony for many years. He consistently supported the local community concert associations and helped found a group for peer learning, the Peer Learning Partnership, which offers courses each semester out of Anne Arundel Community College for seniors. He had a special interest in American and ancient coins, especially Byzantine and Russian for which he, over a 30 year period, wrote and translated articles for the Russian Numismatic Society's journals. He also was an avid reader, stamp collector, antique car restorer and sports enthusiast. His interest in family genealogy grew over many years along with his fancy for many beloved cats. Since 1965 Tom was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, 300 W. Maple Rd, Linthicum, MD, serving in many capacities for worship, outreach and maintenance. His latest joy was being an active part in helping to support a financial drive for the restoration of the glorious pipe organ there. In addition to his wife, Tom is survived by two sons and their wives, John Eric Totushek and Suzanne of Mt. Airy and Craig Thomas Totushek and Meredith of Linthicum. He leaves four grandchildren, Alec and Nicholas of Mt. Airy and Dean and Riann of Linthicum, three step-grandchildren and many family members and friends. Family and friends are welcomed for a Memorial Gathering on Friday, August 21, 2015 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, in Severna Park. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 11:00 am at St. John Lutheran Church in Linthicum Heights, MD. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy, Pasadena, MD 21122 or to St. John Lutheran Church, 300 West Maple Road, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090.