Thomas Matthew Colbert

1954 - 2015

Thomas Matthew Colbert
1954-2015
Noted professor, architect, and artist Tom Colbert's research and life's work propelled the University of Houston to the forefront of coastline preservation and hurricane infrastructure protection design.
Beloved father and friend, Tom loved regaling friends with the adventures of his six children and seven (and counting) grandchildren, cooking seafood gumbo, Vietnamese food with friends, Saturday afternoons wandering the Menil Collection, weekend visits to New Orleans, conversation over wine, and most especially drawing.
Tom was born on January 13, 1954, in New Orleans, LA. He took his primary and secondary education at Country Day School in Metarie, LA, where he was raised. He took his AB in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University in 1976, and his Honors Diploma in Architecture from Cambridge University in 1978.
He taught thousands of undergraduate and graduate students as Professor of Architecture and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Houston's Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, where he taught from 1985-2015. The American Institute of Architects Houston honored Tom as "Educator of the Year" in 2014. At UH, he also served as coordinator of third year undergraduate design studios from1999-2003, as the coordinator of fifth year undergraduate and Level III graduate architectural design studios from 1990-1999, and as coordinator of undergraduate urban planning and urban design sequence from 1985-1989. He was previously professor of architecture at Texas A&M University from 1980-1985, where he taught architectural and urban design, among other courses.
Tom's research focused on the development of architectural, urban design, and land use planning responses to the threats of extreme weather events, specifically hurricanes. His work, which earned numerous awards and professional distinctions, has been presented both nationally and internationally. He was a Member of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects, and Chair of the Editorial Committee of Cite, The Architecture + Design Review of Houston. Mayor Annise Parker appointed Tom as a member of the City of Houston General Plan Stakeholder Advisory Group Committee. The Houston Chronicle featured his research in an October 4, 2013, article by Lisa Gray, "University of Houston professor has a different idea for protecting ship channel from hurricanes."
An artist, the exhibition "The Drawings of Thomas Colbert" was displayed at the Architecture Center Houston from May-August 2015; the Houston Chronicle likewise featured the exhibit in a June 5, 2015, article by Molly Glentzer, "An Architect Who Knows His Lines."
Tom passed away peacefully among family on August 21, 2015, after a battle with stomach cancer, at the age of 61.
Preceded in death by his parents, Charles Ralph Colbert and Rosemary Colbert (Schrafft); his step-mother, Francis Schwarz Colbert (Stern); and his brother, James Eden Colbert. Tom reluctantly left behind by his sister, Kathryn Colbert of Albuquerque, NM; and his six children: Rosemary Jordan and her husband Andrew of Corvallis, OR; Emma Tramuto and her husband James of Houston, TX; Marcella Burke and her husband Steve of Houston, TX; Thomas Colbert of Houston, TX; Michael Colbert and his wife Abby of Houston, TX; William Colbert and his wife Theresa of Houston, TX; and seven grandchildren: Hannah and Liam Jordan; Ella Rose, Connor, and Louis Tramuto; Cecilia and Madeleine Colbert. He is also survived by two step-sisters Jane Louise Johnston (Schwarz) and Susan Berton (Schwarz).
A celebration of life honoring Tom will be held Wednesday, August 26, 5:30PM-7:30PM at Brennan's of Houston, 3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Gifts in memory of Thomas M. Colbert may be sent to The Menil Foundation, Inc., 1515 Branard St., Houston, TX 77006, Attn: Carrie.