Thomas Leinbach Obituary

Dr. Thomas R. Leinbach, 68, passed away suddenly on Dec. 8, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Reading on Nov. 28, 1941, he was the son of the late Margaret O. and Raymond S. Leinbach.

Tom was a 1959 graduate of Exeter High School and received his undergraduate degree in transport economics from the Pennsylvania State University, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He continued on at Penn State to earn his master's degree and PhD in geography.

Tom spent six years teaching at the University of Vermont in Burlington before moving to the University of Kentucky in 1977. His work focused on transportation and economic geography and rural development in Southeast Asia. He published widely and was cited as an international leader in his field.

Over his career he received numerous grants, including 15 awards from the National Science Foundation. In 1996, Tom was recognized as a Centennial Fellow at Penn State and was honored with both Distinguished Professor and University Research Professor Awards at UK. From 1990 until his death, he was the editor of "Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy."

He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Marjorie Richards; daughter, Amy, wife of Tom Marquis, Boulder, Colo.; brother James C. Leinbach, husband of Sandra Nichols, St. Lawrence; sisters Jean M. Leinbach, North Port, Fla., and Jacqueline Leinbach, Ellensburg, W.Va.; and nephew Jeffrey Leinbach, Allentown.

A memorial service in honor of his life will be held in early spring.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Reading Eagle on Dec. 20, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Leinbach

9 Entries

Richard Shearmur

January 8, 2010

I am very sorry to hear of Tom,s passing. He was a great editor - the area in which I have had professional contacts with him -, and always very friendly when our paths crossed in conferences.

Mike and Sue Philley

December 31, 2009

Dear Marge and Amy:
We have so many fond memories of Tom and his enthusiasm for family, life, travel, wine, and work! After our friendship began in Indonesia in the late 70's, even though we saw each other or called infrequently, it always seemed that there had been no time between visits. We were honored to share in the early hours of Amy's adoption and remember how tiny she was and how Tom bonded with her immediately! Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We hope to visit again soon.

Amy Waggoner

December 23, 2009

I'm sending my deepest sympathies to Marge and Amy. I loved your dad, Ames, and was honored to have been able to meet him and spend time at your house in KY. Tom was a wonderful man and will be sorely missed. I love you Momma Leinbach! Much love, Amy Waggs.

Wanda Dixon

December 21, 2009

My deepest sympathy to friends, family, and co-workers. A sunset on earth is a sunrise in heaven. Tom was one of our favorite users to visit us in Academic Computing.

Andy Samudhram

December 20, 2009

I met Tom when I was working in the University of Kentucky Twinning Porgams in Malaysia. Tom was very well known and highly regarded in my country, having had a long and distinguished association with major public and private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. He was a great friend, always patient with his time, switching easily back and forth from topics of family and friends to professional academic matters. He admirably balanced his time between family and professional matters, a balance that I take as a model for myself. His genuine and warm friendship and his invaluable work in Southeast Asia will always be remembered.

I and my family offer my condolences to Marge, Amy and all members of Tom's family.

Ananda (Andy) Samudhram,
Formerly, Dean of University of Kentucky Twinning Programs at Metropolitan College, Malaysia.

FRIENDSHIP IN CANDLELIGHT

A friendship is like candlelight,
Warm and bright, filled with delight;
A smile remembered, a laughter shared
As we walk life's winding paths;
Searching unknown dreams
In the golden sunlight;
Like the rushing mountain brook
And the silent beauty
Of the morning dew
The candlelight softly reminds
Of the enduring warmths of great friendships...
That extend beyond the reach of time.

- Ananda Samudhram, MALAYSIA -

Grady Meehan

December 16, 2009

Tom was a good friend of mine at Penn State where we were in the masters degree program in geography during the mid-1960's.

Tom was always a good listener and willing to share ideas. I hadn't seen Tom for some time and was surprised to hear of his untimely passing.

Tom was the perfect academic in every way, including a lifetime of productive research.

Best of all, he was a valued friend of mine during our years at Penn State.

My condolences go to Marge and Tom's family.

Grady Meehan
Reston, VA

Anne Mosher

December 16, 2009

I am heartbroken to hear of Tom's passing. I didn't know him well, but we always spoke at Penn State alumni gatherings at the AAG and he was very kind to me when I interviewed for a job at UK. He was a class act and I'm very glad to say that we met. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dean Hanink

December 14, 2009

I am so sorry to hear about Tom's passing. I enjoyed working with him on Growth and Change and especially exchanging fishing stories. He was a good friend.

December 14, 2009

We are so sorry to hear about Dr. Leinbach's passing. He was one of our
favorite instructor's during graduate school in the early 80's.

Paul & Andrea Schoninger
Lexington

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