Thomas John "Tom" Seed

Thomas "Tom" John Seed
April 4, 1942 September 17, 2024
Tom Seed passed on September 17, 2024. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Huldah Seed and his granddaughter Jamie Dowdy. Tom is survived by his brother David Seed, his daughter Lisa Hussey and her husband Ian, his daughter Sondra Morrissey and her partner Jim Sheehan, his grandson Brandon Dowdy, and his great grandchildren Collin Dowdy, Jackson Dowdy, and Addison Gonzalez as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. He also had numerous extended families in lifelong friends, amongst his dearest being Steve Eisenhawer, a fellow graduate student at the University of Washington, and his wife, Veronica Eisenhawer. Tom was devoted to his family, which included his friends who were family to him.
Born in Minot, ND, Tom moved to Dunsmuir, CA at 8 weeks old. He graduated from Dunsmuir Joint Union High School in 1960. Tom attended the University of California at Berkeley (or as Tom would say, The University of California) and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in civil engineering in 1964. Unsure of what he really wanted to do in his life, Tom joined the Navy in the summer of 1964 and entered officers training. Tom spent 6 years in the Navy, working on nuclear submarines and serving on the USS Snook. His time in the Navy was work that he was very proud for the rest of his life. This experience led to his pursuit of graduate work in nuclear engineering at the University of Washington. He received his Masters of Science Engineering in 1972 and his Doctorate in 1975. Tom worked at Los Alamos National Labs (LANL) beginning in 1974 as an intern and then as a full-time employee in 1975. He worked for LANL until his retirement in 2002, with the exception of three-year stint with Inesco in the early 1980s. He returned to LANL in 1984, settling in Santa Fe, the town that became his home for 40 years. After his retirement from LANL, Tom worked with the New Mexico State Legislature doing statistical analysis and research.
Tom was an athlete and an avid sports enthusiast. Throughout his life, he skied, ran marathons, and played tennis. Tennis was probably the sport he played most consistently throughout his life. Tom was an avid football fan and a life-long fan of the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland/LA/Las Vegas Raiders. He was disappointed to not experience another Raiders Super Bowl win in his lifetime, but he had high hopes for the 49ers this year (and for the next few years). Tom enjoyed baseball, falling in love with the San Francisco Giants and watching Willie Mays during his undergraduate years. In the early 80s, Tom also enjoyed going to San Diego Padres games with both his daughters during his short time living outside of New Mexico.
Tom never stopped learning. He was an avid reader, often consuming up to three books at the same time, while also listening to the Great Courses while exercising. His home was always filled with books and he was always looking for the next great read, both in fiction and non-fiction. He had a thirst for knowledge and always wanted to learn more.
Tom always enjoyed travel, often driving from place to place across the Western United States. He often planned road trips around visits to friends and family, as well as carting his daughters from place to place as they moved for life opportunities, education, or simply because it was time for one of them to go somewhere else. After retirement, Tom began travelling more, beginning with his purchase of a time-share in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Over the past 20 years, Tom spent more and more time in Cabo, enjoying the weather, relaxing, reading, and trying to learn Spanish, both from books and from the locals. The past few years included trips to Cabo, a river cruise in Europe, and an Alaskan cruise. He always enjoyed discovering new places and learning more about the world.
Throughout his lifetime, Tom enjoyed a good meal, a glass of wine, and the company of family and friends. He will be missed by his family and the friends who became his family throughout his life. To quote Tom: "I had a good life/Tuve una buena vista; I have had a good life/He tenido una buena vista."
Services to held on October 16, 2024. The family invites you to attend the viewing from 10am 12pm at Berardinelli, 1399 Luisa St, Santa Fe; the interment at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 1pm, followed by a celebration of life at the Santa Fe Womens Club.
Services
Visitation
Wednesday
October 16, 2024
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service
1399 Luisa St.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Interment
Wednesday
October 16, 2024
1:00 PM
Santa Fe National Cemetery
501 N. Guadalupe
Santa Fe, NM 87501 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Thomas, please visit our Tree Store.