We are deeply saddened by the loss of Tom Adolphson, loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and colleague. Tom was a faithful friend to scores of people in Chicago and around the world. He passed away on January 20, 2019, at Skokie II. Hospital, with his wife Qing at his side. Tom was 63 years old.
A native of Mankato, Minnesota, Tom had a wide circle of childhood friends with whom he stayed in touch throughout his life. He excelled as a student and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating in 1974 from Mankato West High School, he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota in History. Born to teach, Tom was beloved by students at his academic posts at Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, and The Gunnery School in Washington, Connecticut, where he taught history and humanities. He guided his students on many transcontinental trips, imbuing them with his passion for learning through travel. A gifted photographer, he recorded each trip in pictures which he often submitted to publications photo contests, which he frequently won. His photos were featured in print media and websites including National Geographic, Smithsonian, and The New York Times.
Second to his love of family was Tom's passion for classical music. He attended every orchestra and opera performance within his reach, and possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of classical composers and repertoire. While at the Gunnery, Tom frequently took his students to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where they were selected for the Texaco Opera Quiz Kids competition. Summers took Tom to Ravinia Music Festival in Highland Park, IL, where he was employed on the crowd management team, allowing him to listen to rehearsals and concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He was a talented singer, and owned a vast collection of LPs, eds, and musical scores. He fearlessly approached guest artists and conductors to request a photo with them, and responding to his charismatic persona, was never turned down. His collection of signed photos with performers from Leonard Bernstein to Yo-Yo Ma was precious to him, and in recent years Qing and Victor posed with him and many musical luminaries.
Following a move back to the Chicago area, Tom became a Community Service Officer at Northwestern University where he worked the night shift for nearly twenty years. He taught as a regular substitute at Niles North High School and was a perennial student favorite. He continued his summer work at Ravinia, a dream post that fulfilled his love of all things music.
Tom embraced life with an ebullient spirit which was contagious. Everyone who knew him recognized his prodigious intellect and razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved an audience and was quick to engage his listeners in stories and witty banter. His remarkable memory and keen observations of life and people were constant sources of amusement to his friends and family, colleagues and students. He was known for his voluminous communications via texts and emails where he shared his photos, videos of Victor, and comic observations on contemporary culture. Tom was married to Qing Xiali, the love of his life. He is survived by Qing and their son Victor; brothers John and Erik Adolphson; sister-in-law Kathleen Weinstein Adolphson; nephews Luke Adolphson Yourzak, and Andrew Adolphson; and niece Kari Adolphson. He was preceded in death by his parents Karl and Dorothy Adolphson.
Ellyce Thompson -West
Tom's obituary: https://obituaries.mankatofreepress.com/obituary/thomas-tom-adolphson-1072343607
Barb Claridge -East
Tom Adolphson
12/22/55 - 1/20/19
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Tom Adolphson, loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and colleague. Tom was a faithful friend to scores of people in Chicago and around the world. He passed away on January 20, 2019, at Skokie II. Hospital, with his wife Qing at his side. Tom was 63 years old.
A native of Mankato, Minnesota, Tom had a wide circle of childhood friends with whom he stayed in touch throughout his life. He excelled as a student and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating in 1974 from Mankato West High School, he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota in History. Born to teach, Tom was beloved by students at his academic posts at Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, and The Gunnery School in Washington, Connecticut, where he taught history and humanities. He guided his students on many transcontinental trips, imbuing them with his passion for learning through travel. A gifted photographer, he recorded each trip in pictures which he often submitted to publications photo contests, which he frequently won. His photos were featured in print media and websites including National Geographic, Smithsonian, and The New York Times.
Second to his love of family was Tom's passion for classical music. He attended every orchestra and opera performance within his reach, and possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of classical composers and repertoire. While at the Gunnery, Tom frequently took his students to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where they were selected for the Texaco Opera Quiz Kids competition. Summers took Tom to Ravinia Music Festival in Highland Park, IL, where he was employed on the crowd management team, allowing him to listen to rehearsals and concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He was a talented singer, and owned a vast collection of LPs, eds, and musical scores. He fearlessly approached guest artists and conductors to request a photo with them, and responding to his charismatic persona, was never turned down. His collection of signed photos with performers from Leonard Bernstein to Yo-Yo Ma was precious to him, and in recent years Qing and Victor posed with him and many musical luminaries.
Following a move back to the Chicago area, Tom became a Community Service Officer at Northwestern University where he worked the night shift for nearly twenty years. He taught as a regular substitute at Niles North High School and was a perennial student favorite. He continued his summer work at Ravinia, a dream post that fulfilled his love of all things music.
Tom embraced life with an ebullient spirit which was contagious. Everyone who knew him recognized his prodigious intellect and razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved an audience and was quick to engage his listeners in stories and witty banter. His remarkable memory and keen observations of life and people were constant sources of amusement to his friends and family, colleagues and students. He was known for his voluminous communications via texts and emails where he shared his photos, videos of Victor, and comic observations on contemporary culture. Tom was married to Qing Xiali, the love of his life. He is survived by Qing and their son Victor; brothers John and Erik Adolphson; sister-in-law Kathleen Weinstein Adolphson; nephews Luke Adolphson Yourzak, and Andrew Adolphson; and niece Kari Adolphson. He was preceded in death by his parents Karl and Dorothy Adolphson.