Thomas K. Bjorklund

1938 - 2025

Thomas K. Bjorklund
01/23/1938 - 07/02/2025
Thomas Keith Bjorklund passed away on July 2, 2025 at the age of 87 in Davis, CA. Born in Albion, NE in 1938 to Helen Kunze and Thomas O. Bjorklund, the family moved to Phoenix, AZ where he spent his childhood. "Tommy" had fond memories of visits to his mother's family home and his many cousins in Nebraska.
Tom's math and science skills caught the attention of a Caltech admissions counselor who encouraged him to enroll. Tom was energized by the challenging academics at Caltech, and played football as tackle and blocking back. In later years, Tom liked to brag that he played in the "Rose Bowl", which is true because the Rose Bowl was Caltech Football's home field.
With a Bachelor's of Science in Geology from Caltech and then a Masters degree from the University of Texas in Austin, he was hired by Chevron in Denver, CO to work in oil and gas exploration. In Denver, Tom met and fell in love with Meredith Schlater, a recent graduate from Northwestern, and they married in 1965. His career took them to the oil fields of Vernal, Utah, and then to Los Angeles. They started a family in Ventura with first a daughter, Kristin, then a son, Eric. They lived the quintessential Southern California lifestyle, visiting the beach, bowling, and playing cards with friends, until earthquakes and a job change sent them packing to New Orleans, LA, and shortly thereafter, Houston, TX. Tom passed along his love of sports to his kids, who he kept busy with swimming, baseball, and softball.
In 1978, a new job with Amoco Production Company took the Bjorklunds back to Denver. They all enjoyed the many outdoor activities that Colorado offered. Kris and Eric cherish the times with their father-skiing, fishing, camping, and going on long hikes in the Rocky Mountains. Once the nest was empty, Tom seized an opportunity to transfer to Amoco's international division. He and Meredith started a new life as ex-pats in Trinidad & Tobago, where they had the unique experience of being evacuated by helicopter to an offshore oil barge during an attempted political coup. Tom's work soon called him away to Pakistan and China, but Meredith had developed a newfound love for the Trinidad lifestyle. After an amicable divorce, Meridith and Tom went on to pursue their own goals.
Tom's international lifestyle introduced him to the "Hash House Harriers," a social running club. He became a diehard member with the nickname "Bleeder." After he returned to the States, he retired in 1994, and his love for academics called him back to school to earn a PhD from the University of Houston. Tom always looked forward to the Caltech reunion every year, but in 1995, it was particularly memorable because he also met Rosaria Bulgarella (Rosanne) who would become his partner for the rest of his life.
After earning his PhD in 2002, he took a position advising graduate students at the University of Houston, while also working as a consultant to oil exploration companies. Roseanne made sure Tom took time away from his work, and they enjoyed travelling together -- from cruises to Alaska and the Mediterranean, visiting grandchildren, a Caltech alumni rafting trip, and visiting her family in Italy. It was during this time that Tom, an only child, found great joy to learn that he had a half-brother, Clayton Chase, deepening his ties to his Nebraska family.
Rosanne, his children and grandchildren had a special place in his heart, but Tom's north star was always scientific advancement, which nourished his soul and gave him purpose. He continued working and researching well into his 80's when a neurodegenerative disease diagnosis sent him to Davis, CA, where he could be close to his daughter and her committed caregiving.
He is survived by his partner Rosaria Bulgarella, his children Kris [Sandy] Borowsky and Eric [Jenny McClintock] Bjorklund, and his grandchildren Hayley, Skylar, Alex, Nick, Katie, Imogen, Asher, and Calvin.
Tom will be laid to rest next to his mother in Palmer, Nebraska. Please join us on August 9 at 10:30 am at the Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in Palmer for a memorial service, luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please help us honor his commitment to science by making a donation to the Dr Thomas K Bjorklund Scholarship fund at Caltech. Contributions can be made online https://caltech.imodules.com/BjorklundScholarship. Or checks may be mailed and payable to (note the scholarship in the memo line) to Caltech Advancement and Alumni Relations, PO Box 102963, Pasadena CA 91189-2963.