Thomas Ilg

Thomas Ilg of Los Alamos passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 2, 2012. He died while perusing his passion of photographing the ruins of the Jemez Mountains. He was born Sept. 30, 1958 in Suffern, N.Y. He graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. in 1980 with an engineering degree. He lived in the town of White Rock with his wife Wendy, the love of his life, for seventeen years.
Tom was employed with the Los Alamos National Laboratory where he worked as a mechanical engineer for more than twenty years. He was an avid and accomplished photographer; he loved hiking, hockey, target shooting, scuba diving, traveling and his five feline buddies. Tom was in the Site Steward Interim Training program with Santa Fe National Forest.
He is survived by his mother Elizabeth Ilg of Owego, N.Y.; his brother Robert Ilg (Loretta) also of Owego, N.Y.; his sister Ann Hill (Chip Hill) of Nichols, N.Y.; his nieces: Virginia Fretto (Rob Fretto), Jacqueline Ilg (Brett), Jessica Ellenberger (Mike Ellenberger) and Heather Hill (Mark); his nephew Kristopher (Topher) Hill; is mother and father in-law Charlie and Shirley DeBockler and Zach DeBockler of Tioga, Pa.; his sister-in-law, Robin (Gerald) Crocker; his brothers-in-law, Scot (Sandra) DeBockler, and Todd (Mary) DeBockler; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Albert Ilg. Tom is also survived by numerous outstanding and loving special friends. His exceptional best friend Bob Gentzlinger (brother) was the first to answer the call to search for his missing friend and one of the last to leave once Tom was found. His kindness and deep love for his good friend will be remembered always.
Memorial services will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 8 at the Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Ave, Los Alamos.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in Tom's name can be made to one of the following organizations: The Albuquerque Mountain Rescue (AMRC), Treasurer, PO Box 53396, Albuquerque, NM 87153; the La Cueva Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Inc., 122 Twisted Juniper Road, Jemez Springs, NM 87025; or The Site Steward Foundation, Inc., PO Box 32224, Santa Fe, NM 87594. Tom's family will be eternally grateful for the dedication of the responders, and their valiant and skillful coordination of his rescue.