Newell Thomas Gaarder

Newell Thomas Gaarder, age 85 passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on May 29,
2024, leaving behind his daughter, Kristen and her husband Brian and three grandchildren of
California.
Tom was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on February 17, 1939. He received the B.S. degree in
electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1961, and the M.S. and
Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, Cal. in 1962 and
1965, respectively.
From 1963 to 1965 he worked as a Research Engineer for the Communication Laboratory of
Stanford University--Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, CA, where he was engaged in the
modeling of time-varying channels and the analysis of communication systems. From 1965 to
1967 he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY.
Tom came to UH Manoa in 1967 and was a specialist in communication and information theory,
with particular emphasis on multi-user communications. After 48 years on the UH Manoa
faculty, Dr. N. Thomas Gaarder retired in May 2015, and was an Emeritus Professor until his
passing.
Tom taught hundreds of students over the years, including children of those students, and was
well known for always having an open door to help with homework problems. He will be
remembered as a kindhearted professor, loving husband and laidback grandpa.
Tom and his wife Rhoda found each other later in life and were married for over 24 years. They
were a perfect match of steady, calm and vivacious charisma. They loved life and lived it to the
fullest. They were fantastic grandparents, respected and loved parents and in-laws. They will be
missed. May they both rest in peace.