Tribute Wall
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Wujing Harrison lit a candle
Monday, March 14, 2022
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Tom York and Mary York are people that have been in my life for about two years but in my Mom’s for 33 years. It was hard to meet them in person with the pandemic and living overseas, but all that did not stop me from wanting to call Tom and Mary, and both of them helped me with my English and without Tom and Mary in my life I would have my English grades be C and B for a long time instead of being an A. Something that Mary and Tom did to help me with my English is that they gave me a challenge and even though it was hard I pushed through it. Some more memories with Tom and Mary were chatting about my interest in sports, my school life, what I was learning, and my life overseas and what the lifestyle was like. Tom had been someone special that helped over the years after covid. Even not knowing him in person, his death had impacted me hard and I truly do miss him. Tom and Mary were my third grandparents and Tom’s death had me devastated because of how he changed my life and how I want to meet him in person.
William Harrison (Age: 12)
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David Miklosovic posted a symbolic gesture
Friday, February 11, 2022
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Thank you, Professor York, for all you did to educate me and countless others at PSU and OSU. Rest in peace...
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Yiqun lit a candle
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
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Tom and my father used to work together and I met Tom and Mary when I was in primary school. I was so lucky to have the chance to stay with Tom and Mary in State College (and traveled around) for two weeks in the summer of 2019 and I will always cherish the precious memory of the time we once spent together. For me, they are my friends and tutors, throughout the stay, Tom and Mary have taught me and encouraged me a lot and I am very grateful to them for taking me to so many places, their influence on me is lifelong. Tom has a fine sense of humor as well as a lot of wisdom, he is very gentle and understanding. I will always remember him and respect him.
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xiaolu yang lit a candle
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
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I was deeply grieved over the passing away of Tom. Due to the Covid-19, we have been unabe to have our annual meeting with Mary and Tom in the fall in Beijing for several years. I was expecting that we would probably see each other again somewhere in downtown Beijing this coming fall, just as usual, or that we could come over to the States in summer...
Tom is a great scientist, a dedicated teacher and a true friend. I still remember that, when I told him about my problems in teaching and supervising students in one of our meetings in Tsinghua, Tom gave me a lot of advice which has dragged me out of my dilemma. In our last meeting, we had a wonderful chat in that fantastic restaurant near San Litung. Thank you, Tom, for everything, and for enlightening us!
Our sincerest condelences to Mary and family. We will always remember Tom!
xiaolu with wu qiang from Beijing
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Wujing Harrison posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
I asked Tom how he valued Mary with a humble and supportive soul, so exceptionally in their generation. He smiled, “let me tell you a story.”
Mary loved to travel and together they went to a lot of places, often to a primitive hard-to-reach area. This time was no exception, but more challenging—one way only, no return option, with a local guide, in a remote mountainous area, promising the most magnificent view in their lives. Tom was reluctant to take the risk but nonetheless accompanied his soul mate with his forever trust. The path was far more dangerous than expected, and Tom became 100% sure that they won’t be able to make it through. So he wanted to say all the important last words to his lovely bride. Mary interrupted him, “We are not going to die! Focus on your next step!” With each step toward death, Tom was thrilled that he was wrong. The view after the path was no cheat and Tom was so grateful for the experience beyond the unforgettable view. “Isn’t it wonderful that you feel happy when proven wrong?” he said with his signature smile, “that’s the magic Mary did to me all the time—challenged me to be the better person who I never saw I could be.”
Tom and I were bonded through such insightful stories, intellectual and philosophical reflections, and the enlightening moments as we compared notes. I will forever endear and miss it, especially his fatherly care and support.
Tom’s adventurous spirit was evident in his academic endeavor, naturally across the disciplinary boundaries. More than 30 years ago, few faculty in my university in Beijing knew about plasma fluid dynamics and Tom opened a new avenue for us. I was fortunate to have Tom’s guidance years later to do more research in this new territory, expanding my thinking framework to understand complex systems beyond mathematics and physics, but philosophically.
Even my father in China benefited from Tom’s teaching. Tom valued intercultural exchange and collaboration between the West and the East. He understood how language barriers could hinder knowledge transfer and made a good effort to have the book he co-authored, with a colleague in China, published in both English and Chinese. I asked my father to help on the initial translation of the book. He was hesitant since he knew nothing about plasma fluid dynamics and his English was mainly self-taught since 1980’s. Tom was encouraging, effectively as always, “Just read it first. You can do it.” My father enjoyed reading the book and the translation work. How he wished to have a colleague like Tom!
Mary and Tom did extraordinary things to nudge me to get out of my comfort zone, come and see a different world and eventually iron out my ignorance and young arrogance. Coming from China to U.S. in the mid 90’s shifted my life orientation and career in an unexpected and profound way, from scientific research in aerospace to understanding the social-economic mechanism of a modern Western society. It was a long and challenging journey which I didn’t foresee as Tom and Mary did. They continued their support and guidance in such a balanced manner like parents do, which always lightened my path and strengthened my energy in countless low moments. Their genuine questions kept ringing in my head and prompting me to observe and examine more carefully and explore and embrace new possibilities. “Follow your heart, even when it seems a bad decision to others.” Tom shared what he learned from his other students’ unusual choices and almost all different paths led to something unexpectedly valuable, even when you fail. Tom was eager to compare notes down the road, learning from my experience.
Tom and Mary are so special in my life, and their influence extended to my husband, Kevin, daughter, Swee, and son, William. Kevin, William and I lived in Jakarta for a few years, while Swee was in U.S. for her college and graduate study. The Covid pandemic made travel internationally so challenging, and William couldn’t wait to meet Mary and Tom who he thought so crucial for the luck of his birth but was yet to meet. How much do we miss those Zoom meetings, biweekly or weekly! Challenging as it was to link everyone together, Mary and Tom in Pennsylvania, Swee in Seattle, and us in Jakarta, with various technical issues, those zooms were forever fond memories to be cherished for life. Tom and William bonded like two boys, with Tom purposefully sharing cultural treasures and life wisdom in a playful way and providing buddy support when William took on the writing challenge that Mary presented him. William responded with a desire to grow more knowledgeable and write better and tried so hard to work with and impress his adopted grandparents. When the zoom meetings went for a pause, William was glad to take a break. It didn’t take long for him to keep asking, “Can we zoom again?” After we returned to California last June, he was eager to visit Tom and Mary. He waited patiently, until the day he knew that would no longer be possible for Tom. While he would never meet Tom in person, Tom is molded in his life and will continue to shape who he is forever. The next day, William said to me, “Mary will be happy that I got an A in English writing.” He wished he could celebrate with Tom for the buddy support.
Tom, when I first met Mary and you, I was 22, in Beijing, such a different world and time. I didn’t know the power of your influence, and how Mary and you would transform my life so profoundly. Tom, even when you are gone, exploring a new territory ahead of us all, you are forever with us. We will continue to compare notes with you, see your smile, hear your voice, and gain strength to enjoy life together. Your legacy has been embedded in our family’s intellectual and cultural DNA. Your insight and wisdom will continue to shed light and warm our heart, till one day, we see you again.
Love,
Jing, with Kevin, Swee and William
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Lesia Sanchez lit a candle
Saturday, February 5, 2022
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Mary,
Michael and I, along with our family, would like to offer our sincerest condolences. Tom was a wonderful man with the kindest and most sincerest of hearts, a beautiful soul. We cherish our memories of your visits, and our hearts break for you. We pray that your love for one another helps you find peace.
Michael & Mary
Lesia, Orsini & family
Nusia, Andy & family
Michael, Liza & family
Andrew, Kristen & family
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Dong-Ru Shieh posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Dear Mrs. York,
It is so sad that Dr. York left us. I regret that I did not sent our Holiday's greetings in time this year. I am regretful that we didn't visit Dr. York and you in time... Just March of last year, Dr. York and I exchanged emails about his books. I thought he was in great shape so that he is pushing on his book. Apparently, I was wrong... I just wish that I have done more.
Dr. York is my Dr. York. He was always there for me. He is my mentor and my guardian angel. He is kind, tough, caring, and intelligence. He made me. His legacy will live on.
When I first arrived Penn State in 1980 spring, I have my parents' life time savings because I wanted to learn Plasma Fusion.
The trip to Penn State was hard and long, but it's ok. The culture impact and the financial burden were huge on me, however. Everything was so different and expensive compared to the poor place I came from, but I can learn. Financially, not the case though, I was constantly worrying if I can finish my master in a year before the money ran out. After some consultations with seniors, I met and talked to Chang. He urged me to talk to Dr. York for possible scholarships. He also mentioned that Dr. York is very tough. Gladly, I made an appointment and shyly talked to Dr. York. He was busy but he spent a good 10 minutes with me. He gave me the goal to work hard and take the grade to him at the end of the quarter. The quarter finally finished and I got 1B2A. Sadly, I went to Dr. York to report that I am sorry that I did not make it, but I am very grateful for him to give me the opportunity. He did not say much. I left his office with the thought that 'I need to finish my MS in a year' and went back to study. To my biggest surprise, later that day, Dr. York called me and asked me if I am still interest in the RA scholarship. That was the best phone call I ever received. I was so happy and forever grateful. It not only made my day, but also it made my life. I got to learn Plasma physics from the best professor, Dr. York. I was so lucky! Chang was right, Dr. York is very tough because it is the training. He is tough because he cares. I believe that's why Jeff, Frank, Gong, Nimura, Dave, and Chang, they all have same characteristics of, smart, proud, tough, kind and caring, like Dr. York's.
In 1986, I left the company in Virginia because the owner intentionally delayed the application of my visa status change and it's about to expire. We moved to California. With the unsuccessful job searching, we were facing the serious visa status problem. I decided to go back to school for Computer Science. It was July/August, all the applications were closed. No places were available. I called Dr. York. Without any hesitation, he told me not to worry and wait for his news. A few weeks later, he got me into Computer Science, a RA scholarship, an office, and the housing. He made me, the second time.
When Dave graduated, he made 'I survived TMY' T-shirts for all of us. It was wonderful. For me, the words shall be 'I survived because of TMY'. When people called me, Dr. Shieh, it's always Dr. York came to my mind. Maybe you wonder why I always call him Dr. York. Just because he is my Dr. York. I am so lucky and forever appreciated that he was in my life. He is and will be always in my heart.
Yes, I do miss him.
Take good care, Mrs. York.
When the pandemic is over, we will come to visit you.
/Shieh
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Priya Patil posted a condolence
Monday, January 31, 2022
I met Mr. York in his bathrobe early on a Sunday morning over 40 years ago. My family was on our way somewhere too early for me and my three brothers, and our mother encouraged us (as only persistent mothers can) to deliver eggs, milk and bread to our new neighbor. So there we were, four elementary school-aged and pre-teen children awkwardly standing on the York's front porch wishing our new neighbors were still asleep and wouldn't hear the bell ring. Our wish was not fulfilled that morning, and the door opened to our newly awoken neighbor, but we could not have hoped for a more wonderful friend, neighbor and mentor in Mr. York.
Perhaps because we were both the youngest of several siblings, Mr. York seemed particularly sympathetic to my growing-pains, and encouraged me through my preteen, teen and young-adult years. He always seemed pleased and happy for my accomplishments, but never surprised confidently sharing "...I always knew...". I'm now much older than he was that day in his bathrobe on the porch. I still remember his soft, kind and genuine voice of surprise greeting us four strange children. And, I will cherish the memories of him as I grew up: giving me a first ride in his antique Jaguar, taking me and my brothers to the beach, tutoring me in college physics, traveling to Chicago to attend my college graduation, his congratulatory message on completing my PhD, and years later to DC to attend my wedding. But, for all the 40+ years of neighborly memories I have of Mr. York, I think what I will remember and cherish the most is that he believed in me. And even now as I write this note, I can hear his voice saying "why are you surprised, Priya? I always knew...".
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Su Niri posted a condolence
Monday, January 31, 2022
I met Tom at Beijing when I worked with his beloved wife Mary at BJUT. Each of the time that I went somewhere with them was like an adventure and Tom was the fun part of it! He was such an intelligent, knowledgeable, patient, humorous but humble gentleman. It is a very wonderful thing to have a person like this appearing in my life.
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Rodney Burton posted a condolence
Sunday, January 30, 2022
I send my condolences to Mary and Tom's family, and am so sorry for your loss. In the mid-1960s, Tom and I performed PhD research together in the Princeton Guggenheim Propulsion Laboratory, where we learned the fine art of electric propulsion. After Princeton, Tom had a brilliant academic research and administrative career with many impressive achievements. I wish that our paths had crossed on a regular basis.
Rod Burton
Northbrook, Illinois
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John Polivka posted a condolence
Saturday, January 29, 2022
My Uncle was always an inspiration to me. The heights of his achievements were magnified by humble beginnings and admirable humility. He had a quietly powerful intellectual presence that I both appreciated and tried to jar with my quirky humor. He and my mother Ann York Polivka were close and he supported her educational aspirations as late in life she completed both Bachelors and Masters degrees. I used to brag about the small portion of his accomplishments I knew of. I am struck by the amount as I read the obituary. I frequently take issue with that word (aka death notice), because these scripts are a Celebration of a Life well lived and impactful. He was devoted, thoughtful and intellectually generous.
Funny what you remember: I was at his home during a visit to my brother Jim at Penn State. Several large furniture pieces were magically suspended on walls, their legs removed, but appearing otherwise ordinary. A European design, I was told. And he had/enjoyed a late 1960s (?) MGB convertible sportscars imported from England as a right-hand drive car (versus the left hand drive we have here). My imagination tells me it was British Racing Green.
May God bless his gentle soul and comfort his family and friends.
John Polivka, Plano, Texas
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Peter King posted a condolence
Saturday, January 29, 2022
Tom was a true and respected gentleman in addition to all his academic achievements. He will be missed but fondly remembered by the many people with whom he came into contact. To Mary, I offer my condolences at his passing.
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Frederick and Sheila Dryer posted a condolence
Saturday, January 29, 2022
Dear Mary,
Sheila and I recall with fond memories of the 60’s, overlaps with you and Tom at Princeton and the Forrestal Guggenheim laboratories for The Aerospace and Jet Propulsion Sciences. We were close friends with you and Kenn/Jan Clark, working our way through graduate school, still imagining what career directions might follow. We kept in close contact with the Clarks as they remained in Princeton along with ourselves. Penn State was filled for many years in both aero and mechanical areas with Princeton alums and former professional staff. We used to visit the University occasionally, but lost touch completely when Tom moved to Ohio State. There remain quite a few in the department today, mostly those joining after Tom’s move. State College is a wonderful area, we continue to visit on rare occasions, and we hope perhaps to see you visit you in the future.
With this note, I also want to bring to those who visit Tom’s legacy entry that there is an academic tree begun for Tom’s students at Ohio:
https://academictree.org/etree/peopleinfo.php?pid=557159
I am sure some of these overlapping colleagues at Ohio might assist in encouraging his students to enter their information. Hopefully, some of his associates while he was at Penn State might also encourage his Penn State students to add their information.
Our sincere condolences on your loss. It was wonderful to speak with you on the telephone last night. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Fred (*71, Princeton Emeritus, 2012) and Sheila Dryer
St. Augustine, Florida
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Judy and Peter Turchi posted a condolence
Friday, January 28, 2022
Dear Mary,
We were both saddened to learn of Tom's passing. We have many fond memories of our time together at Princeton and later at Ohio State. These include dinner at your apartment near Princeton, which seemed so adult to us as students, and much later, as you compared travel adventures (e.g., Air Goroda) with Judy's parents who were also very well traveled.
Peter has offered a remembrance below of some of our tribulations at Ohio State, so folks will know how Tom fought the good fight.
Best wishes,
Judy and Peter Turchi
A Remembrance of Time with Tom York
When Tom arrived at Princeton, I was an undergraduate in the Electric Propulsion Lab, and when he was finishing his doctoral dissertation and left for Penn State, I was still there in the Lab as a graduate student. Tom was already a mature scientist, and joined our group after a faculty position at the Naval Academy. Many years later, at the Electric Propulsion Conference in Colorado Springs (1987), we met again at a cocktail party. He had just been appointed as chair of the Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Department at Ohio State, and invited me to join him as a tenured, full professor. We decided to try things out, so I spent every other week (away from my day-job as director of a lab in Alexandria, VA) teaching molecular gas dynamics during the spring quarter of 1988. When at Ohio State, I stayed at Tom and Mary’s lovely townhouse in Worthington, OH, while Mary was back in State College. This teaching experience seemed to work, so I accepted the faculty position the following year (1989). Tom had remarked to me many years earlier that university faculty were like “a jar of spiders”, but I moved to Ohio State anyway.
Tom had been hired to clean up a mess in the Ohio State Aero Department, which included some financial troubles. This he did admirably. Later, however, while Tom was in the OSU hospital recovering from a bout with cancer, the forces of evil struck back. They kept Tom’s faculty friends (myself and Hayrani Oz) in the dark, went to the dean of engineering, and had Tom fired as chair. These were really vicious people, prone to spreading outrageous lies. This returned the corrupt practices that Tom had previously corrected (e.g., debts kept off the departmental records). Eventually, the Aero Department was merged with the departments of Engineering Mechanics and Aviation. The former then broke away and dissolved into Mechanical Engineering, while the latter also recognized a bad financial situation and became independent again. Tom took some leave away from Ohio State to work for the Department of Energy, while I kept going with our research and graduate students in electric propulsion. After Tom returned, I decided that I finally had enough of my other faculty “colleagues” and left for Los Alamos National Laboratory (1999), with Tom inheriting my funded research effort and one or two students who were finishing up. Later, Tom went to the Aviation Department, and the Aero Department merged with Mechanical Engineering. We both should have heeded his earlier observation of faculty behavior, but the Ohio State Aero Department was really unbelievable. We gave it our best efforts and then went on to better things.
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Cynthia Hayes Karcher posted a condolence
Friday, January 28, 2022
Dear Mary,
I am so sorry for your loss. Tom was truly and elegant and quietly intelligent man. I enjoyed speaking with him tremendously. I also enjoyed hearing about you travel adventures. You are so blessed to have had 60 years together. May you be comforted by wonderful memories .
Sincerely,
Cynthia Karcher
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Jeff Dooling posted a condolence
Friday, January 28, 2022
Dear Mary,
I'm very sorry to hear the news of Tom's passing. It was great to see you both in your wonderful State College home back in 2015. I'm sorry I haven't been closer. Tom was a mentor, a father figure, and a friend. He had a keen sense of humor. Just as I was finishing my Ph. D. in 1987, I presented him with a tee-shirt that read "I Survived TMY." Not skipping a beat, he gave me a tee-shirt that read, "I survived Jeff Dooling." Right after my dissertation defense, on our way out to lunch, he asked me what my goal would be and told me to think big. I thought for a moment and said, "Fusion on Mars." He said, "C'mon think really big!" I said, "A date with Brooke Shields?" He said "That's hopeless, forget it!" We had a good laugh.
Much of my success in life I owe to Tom. I will miss his wit, his insights, his thoughtfulness, his inspiration, his compassion, and his smile. Dear Tom, Rest in Peace.
My deepest sympathy,
Jeff
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Alice Schrubb posted a condolence
Thursday, January 27, 2022
When we moved into our retirement home, Tam & Mary came for a visit. They surprised us with several paintings. Tom & Mary chose what they thought we would enjoy. Tom made suggestions where some of the paintings should be placed. Now when I look at these paintings they remind me of Tom & Mary & of Tom's kindness. Tom & Mary made a lovely team.
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Farzin M. Aghamir posted a condolence
Thursday, January 27, 2022
I met Dr. York at Penn State when I was a master’s student in early 80’s. I was interested in plasma physics and he was so kind to accept me as one of his Plasma Lab. group members. I remember during that time, we used to have lab. meetings on Fridays and Saturdays because he was busy the rest of the week serving as a liaison between Department of Energy in Washington, DC and universities. During those meetings, specially on Fridays, I was so impressed and amazed how enthusiastic and energetic he was, even though he had to drive an MG for such a long distance from Washington to State College. I am deeply touched by his passing, he was always energetic and so full of life, and I cannot picture him in any other state. I believe none of us, his ex-students, faculty members, his wife Mary and his family have been able to cope with this tragedy. He truly was a wonderful human being, good-natured, calm and a perfect gentleman.
May he rest in peace
Mahsheed & Farzin Aghamir
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Min Li posted a condolence
Thursday, January 27, 2022
I feel so sad to hear about your loss, Mary. Eight years has passed since the last time I met you lovely couple in Beijing. I still remember those beautiful autumn days, during which I was invited to join you for the ballet Giselle and deeply moved by your sincerity and tacit understanding.
Tom gave me many academic encouragement and helped me a lot with my first published paper. I owe him a debt of gratitude.
May Tom be happy in heaven.
With my deepest sympathy,
Min Li
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Tracy lit a candle
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
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Tom was a great mentor to me. He showed me how not to get lost in others’ expectations and live to be the authentic self. He showed me what it meant to be a scholar. He wrote a book until the end. He collaborated with people from all over the world. In his eyes there is only science and humanity. Tom’s legacy will have a lasting impact. He will always live in our heart.
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ann wesner posted a condolence
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
When Tom was working in Washington D.C., Mary would come for weekends. The four of us would find restaurants we thought we would enjoy. We had such fun discussing the cuisines of the restaurants. Tom and I had enjoyed finding goods wines. It became a friendly competition which all of us happily participated in. We occasionlly spents holidays together. Mary and I would discuss the menu and Tom always participated in the selection of wine for the occasion. It was great fun and I do miss the the warm friendship with Tom.
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George, Ellen, Alex and Linnea Dulikravich posted a condolence
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
The beginning of our 35 years of friendship was when on January 7, 1986 I received a telephone call from Professor Thomas York informing me that I was being offered a tenured associate professor position in his Aerospace Engineering Department at Penn State. He and his wife Mary became very good friends, inviting me to dinners and social events often. Tom was a superb scientist and an outstanding researcher working in the field of plasma physics, an area of research that currently is getting a lot of attention. In other words, Tom was ahead of his time and his contemporaries. As a brilliant graduate student at Princeton University, he was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship which was given only to the brightest young minds. At Penn State, Tom created his own research lab performing truly unique experiments, but did not really have the right environment to share his research.
After moving from Penn State to Ohio State University, and then to Washington, DC in a variety of administrative positions, Tom and Mary continued returning to their home in State College, Pa as often as possible. During these visits, Tom and Mary invited me to social gatherings in their home and to dinners in the local fine restaurants. We became so close that when I started seriously dating a woman that would eventually become my wife, Ellen, Tom and Mary were witnesses at our wedding. When our first child, Alex, was born, we spent several memorable weekends with Tom and Mary in their Jersey Shore vacation home and shared some holidays together in our home. Some of the first toys that Alex had were gifts from Tom. During our private discussions about science, engineering, politics and history, Tom was a wonderful, deeply thoughtful and helpful advisor to me, always with a quiet smile, encouragement and guidance.
I will always be indebted to Tom for the well-placed good words and recommendations that helped me in my career. Tom was the most honest, principled, gentle, and supportive friend that I ever had. His memory will be a bright spot in our lives and in the lives of our children, Alex and Linnea, who loved him.
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Janet M. York posted a condolence
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Tom was my uncle and my friend. Over the last 10 months, I have had the privilege and honor to walk with Tom through illness. One learns intimate things about a person in their difficult times. I will share with you a few of the things I learned about Tom.
Tom was a warrior. Yet he fought with humility and grace. Always the scientist, he investigated his illness and treatment, gathering data to understand what was really going on in his body. At times we were elated with his progress and at times we were disappointed in the health care process.
Tom was generous to the last—kind, warm, and always considerate of others. He had a great love for nature, art and people. He spoke about his love for the mountains, trees and cabin life.
His love and concern for his wife Mary was primary in his life.
I am so happy that Tom allowed me the privilege to help care for him. I also sincerely thank Dr. Parag Patil and Marsha from the oncology clinic for walking along with us through this journey.
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Parag Patil posted a condolence
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Tom and Mary have been wonderful friends, neighbors, and second parents to me and my siblings for 40 years on Inverary Place. We all will miss him for his encouragement, gentle wit and sage advice. He was both a lifelong mentor and a friend. Meeting many friends and family at his services, even in the height of COVID, made clear the breadth and depth of his positive impact on other's lives.
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Rose Lippy lit a candle
Monday, January 24, 2022
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My Uncle Tom was a kind and generous man! Soft spoken and the most intelligent man I ever knew. I was intimidated by his brilliant mind but getting to know him opened my eyes to the very special person he was! I spent time at his house in the summer when we brought my parents to visit.
We always had a great time, laughter and great wine! He truly was one in a million and was always available for great advice (especially during the passing of my husband)
I will miss him and his stories of the past and his travels! Thank you for the great memories!!! Rest In Peace Uncle Tom, you will always be though of in a special way!
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Amanda lit a candle
Monday, January 24, 2022
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Always remember the first time I met Tom through Mary at a dim sum restaurant in Beijing. He was such a nice gentleman, full of wisdom but also humors. I can still recall we had to “yell” in order to be heard because of the noise in a popular restaurant and had a wonderful dinner. Tom was so insightful and could always point out the key issues among the mess I was struggling with. He and Mary helped me get through the most difficult time in my life and were proud of me for every single progress I made in my life though sometimes that was trivial. He was such a successful professor and scientist in aerospace engineering but was always so gentle and easy to approach. My husband and I really enjoyed talking to him about schools, foods, cultures and even politics. The last time when we were visiting, he was so happy we liked his hand made chocolate truffle and packed two bags for us to take home. He and Mary were such a perfect couple, I still remember the happiness on his face when he was saying his favorite dessert was the one made by Mary. I really appreciate I had Tom in my life, showed me wisdom and guidance, and I will cherish these memories for a very very long time. Rest in Peace. Amanda and Alan
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Xuemin Hemsworth posted a condolence
Saturday, January 22, 2022
I came to US from China in the fall of 1989, . Dr. York and Mary took me under their wings and became my second parents. Too many memories to share in good times and in bad times. Through the years, me and my family are so fortunate to have the gentle guidance of Tom. He was not only a father to me, but also to my husband, and grandfather to our two children.
Tom will always live in our hearts. We will miss his gentle manner, wise words and kind heart.
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Mike Hemsworth posted a condolence
Saturday, January 22, 2022
Dr York was like a father to me. His gentle yet guiding hand set an example for me on many occasions. Long discussions on the meaning of life form memories that will stay with me forever. Tom and Mary opened their hearts and home to so many people and I always felt at peace in their presence. I will miss Tom dearly, but take shelter knowing his spirit is alive and continuing to set the example of what a man, husband, friend, and father could be. Rest In Peace Dr York. Love Mike
A Memorial Tree was planted for Thomas York
Saturday, January 22, 2022
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