Thomas G. Hines

Thomas G. Hines (March 20, 1950-July 25, 2025) grew up on a farm in Northern Minnesota where he learned to drive a tractor, build a chicken coop, and tell a story. All these skills were the foundations of his work in the theater. He earned degrees at Northern Illinois University (BA/MA) and at the University of Washington (MFA). He got his start teaching technical theater at Barrington High School in Illinois. For six years he designed and built A Victorian Country Christmas – a major holiday craft and art show in Seattle. In 1998, he accepted a professorship at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. While at Whitman, he became a Full Professor and Theatre Department Chair and oversaw the complete renovation and expansion of the Harper Joy Theatre.
Tom met his wife Betty while at NIU. They first lived in Elgin, Illinois before following Tom's career to Redmond and then Walla Walla, Washington, where they raised their daughters Katie and Allison. Tom and Betty traveled to Europe, enjoyed visits with friends, and became foster parents before Betty's cancer diagnosis. Tom cared for Betty until her death in 2003 and afterwards retired to Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. Tom personally renovated every home he lived in, filling them with good food and good art – most of which he made himself.
Tom traveled extensively both for work and pleasure. He made annual trips to see Katie and Jay and Allison and Robert and their families. Tom taught in Portugal and Beijing. He spent extended periods in Sicily and Turkey. His collaborative work photographing and cataloging ancient theaters took him around the Mediterranean and even to Egypt. With the help of a former student, Tom recently completed a major update of his Ancient Theatre Archive website – an invaluable tool for scholars of both classics and theater.
Tom's grandchildren, John and Betty Hines-Shah and Thomas and Robin Tabacco-Hines, knew him as "Papa." Tom made the children toys and books; Hines family noodles and Saganaki (flaming cheese). Tom dedicated his book about growing up on the farm: Cats Bats and Thrashing Machines: A Guide to Surviving Childhood to his four grandchildren.
While Tom's sudden death has come as a shock, it is comforting to know that he died as he lived – independent to the last. Katie and Allison are grateful for all the careful preparations Tom made while he was living. Tom's story goes on through his friends and family, colleagues and students, and the many other lives he touched through his scholarship and art. A funeral service will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Oak Harbor, WA on Friday August 1st at 10AM with a reception to follow. The service will be live-streamed at https://www.ststephensofoakharbor.com/.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Oak Harbor or Harper Joy Theatre at Whitman College for the support of the Ancient Theatre Archive.