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BORN
1952
DIED
2023
Thomas Knight Obituary
June 17, 1952 - January 26, 2023
Modesto, California - On Thursday, January 26th, 2023, Tom Knight died at Doctor's Medical Center in Modesto. He was 70. Tom is is survived by his wife, Barbara, his children, Christopher and Mallory, his sisters, Lynne and Jan, nine grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. Tom was a devoted teacher, husband and father who loved to write, paint, practice Tai Chi, tango with his wife, and tell his grandchildren bedtime stories. He was a thoughtful, gentle and loving man who gave everything of himself to all of his loved ones.
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Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Knight
Walt
September 22, 2025
I miss you more than you would ever know.
Walt
Martin morici
January 22, 2024
We were best of friends I was best man at his wedding I lost my confidant and friend
Rest in peace
Marty Morici
Jim Autry
January 20, 2024
It's been almost a full year since Tom passed and I still have not reconciled myself to his departure. I feel the loss every day; every day there is something I want to share with him, music, books, movies, news, but he's gone. We had a real bond, were two brothers in spirit, English teachers with a playful attitude toward language and life. Tom was gentle and kind, but he was also full of joy. I have a Tom-sized hole in my life that just can't be filled. I miss you so much, brother!
Debra Budding
March 12, 2023
I´m shocked and saddened to know that Tom has passed away. I first met Tom as a student teacher at Modesto HS and, at that time, Tom was an assistant principal. As luck would have it, I had my first book challenge, a required book for sophomore English students. Fortunately for me, Tom was the administrator who brought the book challenge to my attention and helped me navigate this unnerving challenge. In addition to being a compassionate administrator, Tom was gentle spirit who treated everyone with kindness and respect. His presence will be missed, but never forgotten. Sincere condolences to Barbara, his family, and many friends.
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Chris Coleman
February 24, 2023
Tom was special. He served as a mentor when I began teaching with him. We shared a room for several years and ate lunch with a close group. He was sincere, caring, and had a wicked sense of humor. I loved hearing about his adventures on the coast.
Chris Knight
February 18, 2023
I love you, dad! Best friend forever
Kathy Wood
February 4, 2023
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tom Knight! He was a very lovely man and I enjoyed chatting with him at work. He was always very kind. God bless him. May he rest is peace!
Mike Daily
February 4, 2023
I was in Mr. Knight´s English class during my junior year at Beyer High. I have always liked and respected him since. I was fortunate to see him in public places a few times over the years. When I did, he remembered my name. I always appreciated that. Years later, when I was training to become a teacher, I student-taught at Modesto High. He was an assistant principal there at that time. I´ll never forget how wonderful he felt about that. Lastly, my father was his optometrist for a time. I was saddened to hear about Mr. Knight´s passing. My condolences to his family.
Beverly Weakley(Van Dyk)
February 3, 2023
Tom was not only my favorite teacher in high school, but he was a wonderful mentor and friend. He also had a great sense of humor. He was a gentle person and I really don´t remember him ever raising his voice or getting mad. Over the years when I lived near Modesto, we ran into each other a few times. We would always just pick up where we left off. After I moved to Monterey area, we lost touch. I remember him talking about Santa Cruz and his surfing days. Heaven gained another Angel. One day we will meet again. See you then Tom. Prayers and condolences for his family.
Jackie Mun
February 3, 2023
at Mohi! (And Barbara) u always had the silliest jokes... I will miss u, as MANY will
Sarah E Kline
February 2, 2023
Tom was one of the most wonderful and important people I have ever met. As his hairstylist for many years, I always looked forward to our appointments. Tom was never afraid to be authentic, vulnerable, and lived to love his family, and surf of course. A lifelong educator, Tom helped my son with his college application (to UC Santa Cruz of course) and was always eager to hear how he was doing. I will never forget his kindness and compassion and will miss him.
Michael Larson
February 2, 2023
My Knight was my favorite teacher at Modesto Christian School. He was one of us kids. He reached out to me a few years after my 1979 graduation and was interested in me as a person and where I was going. I lost contact all these years later. It looks like he had a wonderful life and so have I, because I knew him in High School. If the family wants to see pics of us in the 70's let me know. 831-252-1044
Liam Olson
February 2, 2023
One of the greatest admin/educator I've ever known my mother and father (Jon & Donna Olson)wanted me to extend their condolences as well. Thank you for impacting my life for the better and my best wishes to the family as well Mr. Knight will be remembered by us always. Thank you so much!
Hannah Watson
February 1, 2023
Mr. Knight was my high school English teacher & my grandma´s neighbor. He was pivotal in my development as a senior in high school. He ALWAYS called my bluff. He Introduced to me to the Canterbury Tales and other literature that was life changing. He actually got me into reading for fun. he was one of those teachers. I am so thankful I got to learn from him. My condolences to his family.
Dory L Griffin
February 1, 2023
Tom was a blessing to work with at Johansen High. He was kind and humorous and easy to respect. My favorite memory is watching him dance with his wife at Vodka and Latkes a few years ago. It is a joy to see a couple so in love and delight in each other's company. To the family: "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Brady Sanders
January 31, 2023
I loved working in Tom´s class. He was a teacher that required excellence, held expectations and challenged students & adults alike to "think." I especially enjoyed sense of humor, he was always had a good joke... my sons were on his in his class & they really grew intelligently from the educational strategies in his class. Mr Knight was not just someone that I enjoyed working with, I considered him my friend. I would stay afterwards sometimes & often talked about our love of the ocean, he would tell me about where he´d gone surfing.... He was just a great person to be around, sending my deepest sympathies to Tom Knights family. RIP Tom Knight
David Muncrief
January 31, 2023
So sad to hear about Tom´s passing. He was a great man and will be missed! David & Carla Muncrief
Angela Lee
January 31, 2023
Thomas Knight...was a remarkable person by is devotion to his family and friends... He was a person you can trust...A wonderful person...I will truly miss...
Angela R Lee
Steve Roussin
January 31, 2023
I´m no very saddened to hear today of the passing of my friend Tom. I knew him through the Practice of Taiji. He always had a smile and a kind word, a joke to lighten the spirit. People were drawn to him naturally. You just wanted to be around him! What a great human being! Thanks Tom for the friendship, rest in peace my friend!
Stev Roussin
Jim Hutson
January 31, 2023
I met Tom in Tai Chi class and later moved into his neighborhood where I would see him out on our walks. He was a caring and thoughtful person, and always asked with genuine interest about family he had met years before. I also found out that he was a personal friend of surfing pioneer Jack O'Neill, so Tom was clearly a man of many talents and interests. The time that he danced Tango with his wife in our Tai Chi class was especially memorable and inspiring for me. We are sending gratitude to Tom and condolences to his family.
Mary Layton
January 31, 2023
Tom was one of our students for many years. He brought kindness and joy to people. He could make you smile, laugh and blush, all at the same time. Everyone loved Tom.
He was a Gentleman and a brave knight.
We are so sad that we will never see this gifted and wonderful human being again. Our hearts go out to his wife Barbara, his family and friends.
Naser Ataee and Mary Layton
Tai Chi Ch´uan Academy of Modesto
Philip Goodwin
January 30, 2023
Mr. Knight was one of the greatest teachers that I have ever had. He demonstrated such love and passion for teaching and for his students - paralleled by no other.
In a letter to me at the end of my freshman year of high school, he wrote, "...as you get older you will see that people either expand or contract in their interpretation of their general life experience. The ones who maintain a positive perception of themselves and the world end up living a full and happy life."
He lived a happy life - one that he shared with his students, and I was just lucky enough to be one of them.
Jamie Long
January 30, 2023
Tom was one of the kindest and funniest people I ever met. He liked that I got his puns so he often had new puns for me. If we both laughed then it was "punny". He had a way of connecting with students that was inspiring and was just a good human being. Thanks for the laughs.
Marcia Cameron
January 30, 2023
Tom was a gentle, wonderful man. He was always patient and caring with anyone who needed his help. The world isn´t quite as great a place without him. Thank you, Tom, for being my master teacher, then colleague and always a friend.
Marty morici
January 30, 2023
Tom and I shared many great experiences over the past fifty years he was my best friend
Diane Hansen
January 30, 2023
I was fortunate enough to work with Tom and his students at Johansen High School. He was a wonderful teacher who always had a funny story. My condolences to his wife and family!
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