Thomas Glen Bost

July 13, 1942 - August 23, 2025 Tom Bost of Santa Monica, California, passed away at the age of 83 from complications related to dementia. Tom was born in Oklahoma City to Burl and Lorene (Croka) Bost and was raised in Roswell, New Mexico. He graduated summa cum laude from Abilene Christian University and earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University, where he graduated first in his class. In 1968, Tom began a distinguished legal career at Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles, where he became a partner in 1975. In the second chapter of his professional life, he joined the faculty at Pepperdine University School of Law, where he served as a tenured professor and as Interim Dean. Tom was a member of the Pepperdine Board of Regents from 1974 to 2001, including nearly two decades as Chair (1981–2000), and also served on the Board of Trustees at Fuller Theological Seminary. A man of deep Christian faith, Tom was a member and elder of the Culver Palms Church of Christ, where he worshiped and served from 1968 until his health no longer allowed. Tom loved the church, Dodgers baseball, Pepperdine basketball, museums, tennis, hiking, reading, and-most of all-his family. He is survived by Sheila, his beloved wife of nearly 59 years; their children Amy Bost, Luke Bost and his wife Whitney, Emily Bost, and Paul Bost and his wife Alyssa; 12 grandchildren, spanning ages 7-24, who knew him as a witty, wise, and loving presence; and his younger and only brother, Bryan Bost.
A memorial service will be held at Culver Palms Church of Christ on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. All who knew and loved Tom are warmly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Harvest Home (harvesthomela.org).