Thomas Brindley

Dr. Thomas A. Brindley (Tom), 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 28, 2018, in his home in Huntsville. He was born on July 2, 1931 in Toledo, Ohio to Katherine and Arthur Brindley. Before becoming a professor of education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, he received many degrees at institutions including DeVilbiss High School (Toledo, OH), the University of Colorado at Boulder (Bachelors in History and Secondary Education), the Thunderbird School of Global Management (Bachelors in International Business and Secondary Education), Ohio State University (M. A. in Political Theory), the University of Michigan (Ph.D. in Comparative Education), and the University of Washington (Postdoctoral teaching). Tom was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having been posted in Germany during the Korean War. From 1962-1965 he worked in Vientiane, Laos, participating in a program sponsored by the Binational Center (an offshoot of the US Information Agency). Serving as Director of Courses at a grade school in Laos, he met Mengqi Qian (now Monica Chien Brindley), his future, beloved wife. They were married on February 5, 1966, and together they had three daughters. He taught at the University of Arizona from 1968 – 1973 before joining the faculty in the Department of Education at UAH, where he taught for 26 years, till 1999. At UAH, he taught courses in methods and the foundations of education, and he also supervised student teachers in the Huntsville Public School System. His greatest academic interest was education theory and the relationship of education to society. Already when Tom was a child, he had developed a love of nature, and throughout his life he held an abiding passion for birds and bird-watching. In addition to being an avid birder, naturalist, and conservationist, he was a lifelong student of the humanities, especially political theory, public policy, sociology, history, religion. His scholarly book is titled The China Youth Corps in Taiwan (New York City: Peter Lang, 1999). Tom was active in local and national politics, protesting the Vietnam War as well as the destruction of natural habitats on Monte Sano mountain. Tom was the founder and past president of the North Alabama Birdwatchers Society and a member of the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy. He was a resident of Madison County for 45 years. Tom is survived by his wife of 52 years, Monica Chien Brindley, three daughters, Bianca Brindley, Becky Thuma (David), and Erica Fox Brindley (Derek); 6 grandchildren: Christopher "Kit" and Arthur Brindley Best, Kate Brindley Thuma, Claire, Lia, and Amira Brindley Fox; and one nephew, Andrew Thomas (Suzanne). He is preceded in death by parents, Arthur and Katherine Brindley, sister, Glenna Thomas, and nephew, James Thomas (Suzanne). In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations to be made in Tom Brindley's name to the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, or World Wildlife Fund, or any other naturalist (or birding) organization. A viewing will be held Saturday, May 12, from 12 noon-1pm at Berryhill Funeral Home 2305 N Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville. The memorial service will begin at 1pm, followed by interment at Maple Hill Cemetery. "Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." – John Muir