Thomas Alden Barber

Tom was born and raised in Connecticut to Hiram and Margaret (nee Battles) Barber and joined older sister, Didi.

He, a day student, graduated from Loomis school. Already an artist and a scientist, he enjoyed singing at weddings and loved cars and the hot rod club where he became a Pit Boss. He worked in the Connecticut river valley tobacco fields and on a dairy farm to earn money for college.

He graduated in 1957 from Trinity College in Hartford, with a B.S. in Physics and Electrical Engineering. He was a member of the Brownell Club, sang in the Trinity Pipes, and claimed he was the only man to be ‘depledged’ from a fraternity…”for fixing a broken window”.

Tom married Edda Suzanne Wicks and went to work at United Aircraft, in Research and Development. In 1959, he and Edda moved to Pasadena, CA. The call of the ‘Space Business’, warmer winters, and a job offer with California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) were too much to pass up.

He worked for the next 34 years in many areas at JPL and continued his education - studying Public Administration - at USC and, in 1973, received a M.S. in Engineering, from UCLA. While at JPL,

● He worked with Detroit car companies and Congress, relating to the catalytic converter

● He worked with the City of Pasadena, consulting in conceptual design and implementation of Planning Information Systems

● He was a project manager for electric car studies in the 70’s

● And finally, he was Strategic Planning Office Manager until his retirement in 1992.

He was heard to say, “It’s not Rocket Science…Oh, wait, yes it is.” His NASA baseball hat echoes the phrase!

On the side, he became a noted handicapper and spent many happy hours with friends at the Santa Anita racetrack, played tennis, played guitar, and sang at Neighborhood Church.

In 1986, he married Ida Scherer at the Atheneum at Cal Tech. In 1992, they retired to Pacific Grove, CA. Tom also said, “You must retire to something!” - he chose many somethings.

● Watercolor - He took classes at Pasadena City College and Monterey Peninsula College and workshops with Gerald Brommer and Eric Wiegardt. He joined the Central Coast Art Association, and is known locally for his watercolor of the Red House Cafe.

● Music - He and Ida sang in the Bach Festival chorus, I Cantori Di Carmel, Camerata Singers, Contus, and the church choirs at St. Philips and St Timothy Lutheran Churches.

● Golf - He played as often as 5x week - most recently with the ‘1 o’clockers’ at PG Municipal Golf Course.

● Traveling - in “ever larger’ RV’s - from PG to Alaska, to Florida Keys, including visits to family. Trips to Scandinavia and Southern Europe, singing and water coloring. And visiting family in Hungary - including a wedding.

● Other - He built model airplanes from balsa wood, tissue paper and 1940-50’s models, played guitars, and watched Nascar races with his grandchildren. He gave them golf and watercolor lessons and told them about Richard Feinman and Quantum Physics.

He enjoyed visiting with old and new friends - even strangers - engaging in lively repartee and double entendre to the end.

Tom is survived by his daughters Christine and Catherine, granddaughter Rebecca and first wife Edda. Stepfamily - daughter Debra (Bill), son Steve (Andi), grandchildren Matt, Justin (Kirsten), Sam (Lindsay), Rachel, Luke, Evan, Leana, and Greatgrandchild Aiden. Special friends Hilda, Thomas, Jessica (Kai & Nova). And his loving wife, Ida, to whom God gave the gift to be able to care for him at home as he wished. A special thanks to VNA Hospice and the Pacific Grove Firemen who made it possible.

A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held at St. Timothy Lutheran Church 52 Soledad Dr. Monterey on Sunday, October 23, 2022 at 2pm with Fellowship to Follow!

All who know Tom are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s name to St. Timothy Lutheran Church or VNA Hospice.