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BORN
1919
DIED
2016
Thomas King Obituary
Oct 4, 1919 - June 26, 2016
Capitola, California
Thomas G. King, Jr passed away peacefully on June 26, 2016, in his Capitola, CA home attended by his partner of 41 years, Anita Davis and family.
Tom was born in Seattle Washington and was raised in Hollister, CA. He joined the Merchant Marines and then in 1941 joined the United States Navy. After his service he began a successful photography business in San Francisco. His many photo assignments took him across the globe and back; people, places, and food where his specialities. Tom had many color magazine covers to his credit and he especially like to recount his time spent with the Harry S. Truman campaign and musician Louie Armstrong.
Tom opened the first Courtyard Restaurant in 1969 and then the larger location in 1972 along the Soquel Creek. Seeing a need for quality trained food service personnel, Tom obtained his teaching degree and began teaching at Cabrillo College, becoming the Food Service Director until his retirement in 1988.
In the years following, Tom renewed his love of gardening, painting, and photography, and especially computer technology. He and Anita traveled to Spain, China, France, Germany, Norway, and any where else the wind blew them.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers at this time the family encourages a donation be made in Tom's name to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or to Cabrillo College Food Services Department.
Creamation has taken place with the Trident Society.
View the online memorial for Thomas G. King, Jr
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Memories and Condolences
for Thomas King
Sponsored by santacruzsentinel.com.
5 Entries
October 2, 2016
Anita: we surely thought of all of you yesterday for Tom's memorial service, we were there in thoughts, we had something drop in our lap that needed attending to and we were sorry we couldn't be there. We were sure thinking of you and send only the best your way. We are here for you if you need anything?
Jane Parks-McKay and Tim McKay
Garrett McKeeman
August 17, 2016
I am saddened by the passing of Tom. Mr. King as I addressed him was my original mentor of my career into the world of Culinary Arts. He was an inspiration and I owe a debt of gratitude to him for guiding me in the direction and fueling my passion for my profession. I too met Tom at his restaurant in Capitola. I also was a student of his, First in High School (Yes, he taught one year 73-73) and a couple of years later at Cabrillo College. It was when he was a teacher in High School I saw the depth to which he would go to try to get student excited about cooking ot life in general. The class was taught at Harbor High, students came from all over the district. Most of my fellow students where cast offs from the other high schools, their counselors not knowing what to do with them. We had no kitchen, no budget, but Tom brought in foods and spoke about it with great enthusiasm, it was infectious. Of the 8-10 students we had only a few of us showed any interest. Towards the end of the year, Tom took a group of us camping up to Yosemite for a weekend. That was the kind of teacher and person he was, giving of himself to others.
I lost track of Tom, and I regret that but will always have him in my memory.
Garrett McKeeman CEC
SCHS class of 1975 Executive Chef Quechan Resort Casino and Paradise Casino Yuma Az
1970
A Friend
July 6, 2016
I worked my first (and last?) job for Tom at the original Courtyard up Capitola Avenue from my honeymoon cottage down the street in 1970 21 y/o, after eloping to Mazatlan, returning, and deciding to move to Capitola from Palo Alto. I saw Tom often at Cabrillo, where my wife worked and we live next door to, throughs the years ... The comments above sums up Tom and his nexus and importance to Cabrillo well. Great picture. Great wife, Great long life, and plenty of Great cannelloni! ... All sympathies and condolences to his wife and family. Now he belongs to the angels.
Jane Parks-McKay
July 2, 2016
My husband used to have Tom as a Client many years ago. I used to hear such wonderful things about Tom King. Finally I met him and certainly found out why. What a nice man, a real gentleman and so very talented. We have thought of him so much over the years and if anyone happens to know when the life celebration would be, could someone notify us? contact information is below. He was a wonderful man! Jane and Tim
Annie McNeill
June 30, 2016
I met Tom at Cabrillo College, after landing in Santa Cruz with no real life plan. I picked up a CC Schedule of classes, found Food Service Technology and signed up. It changed my life. Tom became the most important mentor of my life. He was knowledgeable, passionate about food service, patient, generous and undeniably funny. He took me under his wing and taught me how to fly - into a career in the food/hospitality industry that lasted nearly 40 years until I retired. I will never forget him, my guiding light when I was in a lost place. He kept track of his students after we left Cabrillo, and celebrated our many triumphs as we succeeded all around Santa Cruz County and the world! Thank you Tom King, for sharing your life well lived, with so many!
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