Thomas M. Hallin

Thomas, Tom, Tommy (to only a few brave souls), Dad, Opa, Pops - lived a long and happy life. 

His beautiful and loving wife, Janet Wilcox Hallin, passed February 6, 2021 and his son, Robert Thomas Hallin, passed March 24, 2020. His only sister, Sue Barnes, and his parents, Carl and Josephine Hallin, passed years ago.

Tom is survived by his children Julie Weldon, Linda Sebald, John Hallin, and Stephanie Denning.  He is also survived by his niece Susan Barnes and nephew Tom Barnes. The Hallin family has grown with those brave enough to marry into the clan – Randy Weldon, Dwight Sebald, JP Denning and Iris Hallin.  Tom had eight grandchildren – Sarah Weldon Fiebiger (husband Jimmy), Michael Weldon (wife Jenna), Hayley Sebald Briody (husband Corey), Davis Sebald (wife Aspen), Camilla Hallin, Denika Hallin, Spencer Denning and Grace Denning and two great grandchildren – Ali Fiebiger and Sylas Sebald.

Born 11/2/1933 in Minnesota

Minnesota - South High School graduate – 1951

University of Colorado College of Business – 1954, MBA 1955

Arthur Anderson/Accenture – 1955 – 1987

Chairman/President of Solleron Resources, Inc. – 1987 - 2021

Mom and Dad met at the University of Colorado business school. Dad was in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Mom was a Pi Phi transfer from Miami University.  Mom loved to talk about how she had to wait for Dad to put on his Minnesota wool coat (with a lot of buttons) because he was in the class before hers in her assigned seat. He later called her for a blind coffee date, and she laughed when he showed up in the coat with all the buttons. But she stayed. They discovered on that first date that they had been in 4th grade together and Mom was convinced Dad was the boy who dipped her long braids in the ink wells. They were married on December 27, 1955 and it was the beginning of a wonderful partnership. Their first home was on Coral Way in Broomfield where they made many lifelong friends including the Markel and Reeves families.  To be within walking distance of Cherry Creek Schools, they moved south to a brand-new Writer development on Boston Street where they would stay for 40+ years.  It just so happened that another Anderson family with five kids lived just down the street who would become cherished friends.  To this day, we call ourselves the Hublins (Hubbard/Hallin).

First and foremost, he was a Hallin Swede from Minnesota and was very proud of that.  He did not mind at all being called a “Stubborn Swede.”   Almost all of the partnerships he formed during his Real Estate Investment and Development years had names of towns in Sweden from which the original Hallin Swedes hailed.  He was so disappointed when he visited Mora, Sweden and discovered that the Viking Graves of his ancestors were “Just a pile of Rocks?” and he drove miles and miles looking for what surely must be a more Noble edifice.  Dala horses and all things blue and yellow were proudly displayed and worn.  One particularly garish blue and yellow striped turtleneck was a favorite that was pulled out of the Goodwill bag every time Mom snuck it in there. Dad owned at least 6 different SAABs and as a result was a frequent repairs customer of Mile Hi SAAB!

While most may have known him as a hard negotiator and successful businessman, CPA, Consultant and Real Estate Developer (Mr. Frisco as we sometimes called him), his family and friends got to see another side of him.

Dad earned many other titles during his life – “Chief Full of Bull” being one of his family’s favorites. Telling stories was more about getting your goat than it was about the truth.  He loved to start a debate and take whatever side you were not on. You could never win the battle that his full head of hair was invisible only to you.  He was also a jokester - hiding rubber spiders in beds and suitcases, putting various not so yummy items in pancakes that he made every Sunday morning, wrapping cheerios boxes for birthday gifts and stealing wrapping paper on Christmas morning so that he could wrap various odd items that he pulled out of his closet are just a few examples.  His sense of humor has its own moniker in our family and apparently has been passed along genetically to some, but not all, of his kids and grandkids.  FSHD – Father Sense of Humor Disorder – is typically added to explain any bad joke.

He was a thinker and a dreamer.  His wife, kids, friends, and especially those who worked with him, would joke about having to write their questions down so that when the answers finally came, they would be able to remember what was asked.  He read, researched, and learned about all things he was interested in doing.  Then he did them.  He took risks that often worried our mom, but which turned out to be wise investments.  A closet engineer, Dad was hands on during construction of his Frisco projects. He developed over a dozen buildings in Frisco and owned and managed several vacation rentals through Special Places of Summit County (yes before Airbnb!).

He gave back. This was how he lived out his faith!  United Way, Girl Scouts, Presidents Leadership Class, Bal Swan School, and Cherry Creek Booster Club are just a few of the organizations to which he gave his time, talents, and financial support. He gave a hand up to many small businesses in Frisco.  Understanding that his tenants’ success was critical to his own, he helped, consulted, gave free rent, shared ideas, and supported them in any way he could. 

Dad was honorable and brave.  As a young boy he was very involved in Scouts. He was Navy ROTC in college and would have served if he had not come down with a lung issue that kicked him out. More recently, his hearing was almost gone partially due to manning the cannons on a battleship during ROTC training in college.  Dad did not compromise his values in his work. He didn’t take short cuts. He wanted things done the right way.  As the father of Robbie who was born with Downs Syndrome, he bravely and lovingly navigated the world of special needs kids and made sure Robbie had as normal a life as the rest of us. He made sure Robbie was financially taken care of but also made sure Robbie had a job and helped him to live on his own.

Dad loved to ski!  He was not always the most graceful and typically began a run with his arms held wide, poles ready to plant before his down up down exaggerated approach, but he was strong and would always say “Just one more run!” even if it was a freezing cold blizzard and most skiers were wisely inside the lodge having hot cocoa.  He outfitted all his kids in red and blue ski gear (so they could be passed down regardless of gender) and safe bindings (Swedish made of course). Some of our best memories are skiing adventures in Vail, Snowmass/Aspen/Buttermilk/Aspen Highlands, and Winter Park but especially Copper Mountain.  Dad skied with his Bota bag which his kids did not know was full of red wine until they were teenagers and were turned down when they asked for a sip.

You would think that a control freak stubborn Swede would want a quiet home with few children taking care of his every need.  Instead, the Hallin household was a chaotic jumble of five kids going all different directions.  Art lessons, dance classes, tennis matches, swimming meets and on and on. During his Anderson/Accenture years, the Hallin house would be a favorite stopping point for people he met and worked with from all over the world. Of course, he outfitted all those willing to try skiing with a stockpile of ski equipment and a place to stay.  He hosted countless parties and barbeques and bridge games.  He loved wine and cognac. 

As a world traveler, Dad gave the gift of adventure to all of us.  Each of us have had amazing experiences all over the world!  Mom and Dad had many trips together and with friends.  We all have fond memories of family trips to Mexico and Montana (Flat Head Lake).

Most of all, he was our dad.  He was who we went to when we needed help or a hug.  His expectations were high, and he was tough on all of us, but he loved his family to his core and wanted to leave a strong legacy!  He did just that!  We will miss him terribly but are comforted to know that Heaven has a stubborn Swedish angel whose spirit is united with our mom and all their loved ones who preceded them. 

Memorial Service January 7, 2023, 1:30pm at St. Andrew United Methodist Church 9203 S. University Blvd, Highland Ranch, CO 80126.

Rest in Peace Dad/Pops/Opa!