Thomas R. Nilsen

Thomas R. NILSEN Thomas Robert Nilsen, professor emeritus of Speech at the University of Washington, was born in Dallas, Wisconsin, December 18, 1916 to John and Caroline Nilsen, and passed away April 20, 2006 in Burlington, WA. His childhood was spent in North Dakota, Alberta, British Columbia and finally the Pacific Northwest as his father served the Lutheran Church in various positions. He graduated from Custer High School in Custer, WA in 1935 and the University of Washington in 1940. He was the first in his family to attend college and earned his way through the University by working summers on fishing boats in Alaska and as a houseboy during the school year. In 1941 he married "the love of my life" Ruth Wyman. He served in the Navy in WWII aboard the USS McDermut, seeing action in the South Pacific, and also as a liaison officer with the Royal Navy aboard HMS Indomitable and HMS Undine. Following the war he obtained his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and joined the faculty of the University of Washington. After a distinguished career there, including chairman of the department from 1970 to 1976, he retired in 1984 in order to care for Ruth, who was in declining health. Ruth died in 1990, and in 1995 he married Amy Mates. They traveled much of the world before her death in 2000. In recent years Tom and his companion, Margery "Pid" Wright, have resided at Where the Heart Is in Burlington, WA. He is survived by his children, Thomas Jr. (Estelle) of Seattle, Meredith Simon (Allan) of Calgary and Ralph (Jennifer) of Seattle, four grandchildren, Michael Nilsen and Sarah Davis of Seattle and Nycole Sanborn and Roland Simon of Calgary, and five great grandchildren. The family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to the Staff of Where the Heart Is for the loving care they showed our father in his years of declining health. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m. at the University Unitarian Church, 6556 - 35th Ave NE, Seattle. Remembrances to Skagit Valley Hospice Association or the Friends of Speech Communication, c/o Department of Communication, University of Washington.