Timothy Bruce Tomke

1940 - 2016

November 22, 1940 - March 25, 2016 Dr. Tim Tomke, age 75, died Friday, March 25, 2016 in his sleep at Foothill Retirement, a caring community located in a former convent in Tujunga, CA. He was born in Bay City, MI to Martin and Laura (Hoff) Tomke. After graduating from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1966 he completed his internship at Highland Alameda County Hospital in Highland, CA. Eventually he became the head of the emergency room at Fairmont Alameda County Hospital in San Leandro, CA. Later he would run the emergency room at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, CA. Dr. Tomke left the field of medicine to pursue his true calling as a jazz pianist and to run a recording & television studio. Ocean Television was established and operated in Stinson Beach, CA. Dr. Tomke had many accomplishments as a jazz pianist throughout his life, most notably jamming with Chet Baker, headlining the Flint Jazz Festival and touring Europe with The People's Jazz Band. Dr. Tomke is survived by his loving sister Leanne and her husband Dr. Don Setser. He is also survived by his four children Bruce, Tyrone, Olivia & Miles and six grandchildren, Nick, Sam, Abby, Simone, Ellie & Penny. A service will be held in the Wee Kirk o' the Heather chapel at Forest Lawn - Glendale on Wednesday April 6th at 1:30 in the afternoon.