WILLIAM THOMAS FAIRBOURN

WILLIAM THOMAS FAIRBOURN (TOM) William Thomas Fairbourn (Tom) passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at his home in Santa Fe surrounded by family and friends. He was born on October 14, 1947 in Washington, DC and was adopted by William T. Fairbourn (Major General USMC) and Laura S. Fairbourn. In his forties, Tom was blessed to find and connect with his birth mother's Crosby family. Tom grew up in Virginia, New York, and California. After serving in the Marine Reserves, he graduated from the University of Utah where he began his career in broadcasting at KUER-NPR. Tom worked in radio, newspaper, and public television in Utah, Pennsylvania, and Maine. After moving back to the Washington, D. C. /Northern Virginia area, he worked for the National Captioning Institute, the Center for Defense Information, and the Voice of America. Most recently, until his illness, he worked for Comcast Spotlight in Santa Fe. Tom was a treasure; always the gentleman who took his time with people and made us all feel special. He was a role model for many during his courageous 3 1/2 year battle with pancreatic cancer. He loved music, language especially puns and "corny" jokes, politics, his wife, his son, all animals but especially his cats, and his many friends. Tom was preceded in death by his father, William T. Fairbourn, his mother, Laura S. Fairbourn, and his cousin, Susan Howe. He is survived by his wife, Dona A. Durham of Santa Fe, his son Paul G. Lagoe, US Navy stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and his many cousins. The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, the New Mexico Cancer Center in Santa Fe, and Dr. Mark Reininga for the care Tom received the last 3 1/2 years. Special thanks to the care givers and friends who were with us the last few days of his life. Donations in his memory can be made to Felines and Friends in Santa Fe, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org), or KSFR radio in Santa Fe. A private service is planned and a memorial to celebrate Tom's life will take place on October 14th.