Thomas Green Terbell Jr.

1938 - 2016

October 22, 1938 - April 14, 2016 Thomas Green Terbell, Jr. died peacefully surrounded by love on April 14, 2016 in Santa Barbara, California at the age of 77. Tom was born on October 22, 1938, in New York City to Thomas Green Terbell and Louise Boone Peterson. He graduated from The Hotchkiss School in 1956, Stanford University in 1960, and The Harvard Business School in 1962. He had a storied career, first in the toy business with JackBuilt Toys, then in corporate banking with a hiatus when he took on the role of Director of the Pasadena Art Museum. Tom and Melinda Farris were married from 1962 to 1972. From 1969-1971, Tom served as the Acting Director of the Pasadena Art Museum. During this time, he oversaw the construction of the building that now houses the Norton Simon Museum and presented several groundbreaking exhibitions by such artists as Donald Judd, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol. In 1972, Tom married Yolanda Mezey. His career with Security Pacific National Bank enabled them to live in many cities around the world, including Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, Chicago, and San Francisco. He briefly retired to Vail, Colorado, but returned to finish his banking career with Mellon Bank in Los Angeles. Tom was a devoted family man. He enjoyed nothing as much as his family gathered around him in song. He will be remembered for his courage, his elegance, and his witty sense of humor. He was a generous man in all aspects of his life, especially as a patron of the arts. He was an excellent dominoes player and, above all else, a gentleman. He touched everyone he knew and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Yolanda Irene Terbell; his daughters with Melinda Farris Wortz: Lisa Terbell LaHorgue, Alison Terbell Nikitopoulos, and Jennifer Terbell Wisdom; his children with Yolanda: Heather Irene Terbell and Thomas Green Terbell III; his sister, Joan Terbell Knowles, his step-sisters Lynn Whittlesey, Elizabeth Cowles Taylor, and Marcia Cowles Dean; his step-brother John E. Gerli, Jr.; and thirteen grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, June 24th at 2:00 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tom's life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Serenity House in Santa Barbara at http://www.vnhcsb.org/serenity-house/.