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Uploaded: Monday, December 3, 2012, 9:50 AM
Service Friday for former school board president Tuomy
John Tuomy fought against closure of Gunn High School in the 1980s
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by Eric Van Susteren
Palo Alto Weekly Staff
Photo
 | Services will be held Friday, Dec. 7, for John Tuomy, a former Palo Alto teacher who served for eight years on the Palo Alto Board of Education.
Tuomy suffered fatal injuries from a fall off a ladder on Wednesday, Nov. 28, and died on Friday, Nov. 30. He was 66.
He was born in Spokane, Wash., and moved to Palo Alto with his family in 1949. He went to Besse Bolton's Nursery School and Elizabeth Van Auken Elementary School. He attended Jordan Junior High and then Palo Alto High School.
After briefly attending Foothill College and the University of Oregon, he transferred to San Jose State University, where he studied political science.
In 1968 he became on intern for former U.S. Rep. Don Edwards and worked with the Mexican-American Political Association and the residents of east San Jose.
After 18 months at Golden Gate University Law School, he decided to stop studying law and discovered an interest in teaching through tutoring at his wife's school.
"I'd go home and think about it, and think about different ways to get through to the kids," he told the Palo Alto Weekly in 1998. "It was one of the first jobs I'd ever done that I really enjoyed doing, and I couldn't believe people got paid to do it."
He attained his teaching credential in the early '70s and student-taught in east San Jose and then at the Barron Park Elementary School in Palo Alto during a time when teaching jobs were scarce.
He was then hired at Palo Verde Elementary School, and after five years he was offered a position at the district's gifted program and eventually a spot as its computer coordinator.
"It was before Apple, even," he said. "We were timesharing on the district's HP 2008. I'd finish teaching, and I'd spend hours at the computer."
In 1977, he administered a $250,000 federal grant to teach children how to tutor each other on computers.
In 1979, he left the district for the private sector to better support his family. After a series of jobs in the tech industry, he became vice president of sales and marketing for Leemah Datacom Security Corp. in 1988 and became CEO in 1990.
But he didn't leave education behind. He fought against the proposed closure of Gunn High School in 1988 and served as co-chair, along with Carolyn Tucher, of the committee that put helped pass "Building for Excellence" school bond in 1995. After the bond passed, he reluctantly ran for school board. He served two terms, ending in 2003.
"He knew what he was signing up for," said Tucher, referring to his already busy schedule as a father and businessman. "He wanted to make sure he followed through on the commitments we made for the bond, and he really cared about education from making a career in it for as long as he did."
Tucher said his background as a teacher, his knowledge of technology and his deep love for the community made him uniquely qualified for the job of school board member.
"Often his test for decisions would be 'What would my father think of this? How would this sound to a longtime Palo Altan, and how would it affect them?'" Tucher said.
On the board he built a reputation as someone with strong opinions who always spoke his mind.
"There was nothing wimpy about John, but he was good-hearted," she said. "I think being straightforward was a good quality, and when all was said and done he would play with the team."
Tucher said Tuomy, who lived for years in the Greenmeadow neighborhood of Palo Alto, also ran for the school board to represent the place he lived.
"South Palo Alto has half the kids in the district, but there aren't many board members from those parts," she said. "He felt that his neighborhoods weren't as well-represented for no other reason than that they didn't run for the board."
School Board President Camille Townsend expressed in a press release the impact of Tuomy's death on the school district.
"John Tuomy loved this school district and he wanted the best for its students. His boisterous advocacy came with a thoughtful analysis and a willingness to put his shoulder into the work ahead. He focused on the future. We will miss him as a friend and as a leader," she stated.
Tucher spoke highly of Tuomy's dedication to his family. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, a technology trainer for the Palo Alto Unified School District; his daughter, Erin Mershon and son-in-law Geoffrey Mershon of Palo Alto; his son, Brian Tuomy, a teacher at Gunn High School and daughter-in-law Ariane Tuomy, of Redwood City; sister Elizabeth Rundell of Palo Alto; sister-in-law Susan Custer of Mountain View; nephews Doyle Rundell of Menlo Park, Travis and Jordan Rundell of San Francisco; and granddaughters Amanda and Leah Mershon.
Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m., at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 E. Meadow Dr. in Palo Alto. It will be public, Brian Tuomy said.
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Posted by Debbie Ford-Scriba, a resident of another community, on Dec 3, 2012 at 10:29 am Very sad news. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
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Posted by stephen levy, a resident of the University South neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 10:36 am
stephen levy is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online What a tragedy. John was a great guy and a friend to education.
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Posted by Claude Ezran, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 10:53 am This is a heartbreaking tragedy, John was a wonderful person and a great contributor to our community. It is really sad to lose so many outstanding, really unique, community leaders in such a short time: Gary Fazzino, Ellen Fletcher, and now John Tuomy. My sincere condolences to John's family.
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Posted by patricia levinson, a resident of Mountain View, on Dec 3, 2012 at 11:18 am John Tuomy was a great friend of PAUSD children, schools, parents, and teachers. He was open-minded leader with a clear vision and a big heart. His passing is a great loss for PAUSD and the greater Palo Alto community. Heartfelt condolences to his family.
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Posted by marilyn cook, a resident of another community, on Dec 3, 2012 at 11:51 am What a tragedy for the Palo Alto community to lose this energetic and devoted father, friend, and supporter of children and teachers. His larger than life presence will long be remembered.
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Posted by Sue Allen, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 11:56 am Few people have done as much for Palo Alto Schools as John Tuomy, along with his wife, Carolyn. They started in 1980 to 'turn around' Fairmeadow Elementary when it was struggling, and went on from there to do all they could to support the students of Palo Alto. John's good spirit will be missed.
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Posted by Cathie Lehrberg, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 1:01 pm I really enjoyed working with John on various school committees years ago. What a nice man! I'm so sorry for his loss.
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Posted by JoAnne Wetzel, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 2:25 pm What a sad loss to all of us in Palo Alto. He did so much good and made a huge contribution to the PAUSD.
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Posted by Roni, a member of the Gunn High School community, on Dec 3, 2012 at 2:29 pm While I didn't know John, it's very clear to anyone reading this article that he cared about kids in Palo Alto and about this city's future. I do know that he must have been an amazing parent as his Son, Brian, is a joy to work with and to be friend's with.
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Posted by Penny, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 4:36 pm A good man...and a great loss. He will be missed.
My deepest condolences to his family.
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Posted by gunngrad2008, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm My prayers are with the family. I know his son Brian, who is a great teacher.
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Posted by Laura Bowen, a resident of another community, on Dec 3, 2012 at 6:00 pm I was so sorry to hear the sad news this morning. I was a student of John Tuomy's at Palo Verde in the 1970s. I've always remembered him as a uniquely energetic, creative and positive teacher.
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Posted by Carrie Manley, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 6:24 pm Mr. Tuomy was such a welcome and positive presence at Walter Hays. His love for his children, his grandchildren, and for all the kids in our community, was always a delight to see. Sincere condolences to his very loving family. He touched so many lives here in Palo Alto, and we will always remember him with fondness and great gratitude.
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Posted by Erin Tuomy Mershon, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2012 at 6:37 pm Thank you all for your kind words and comments. Our family has been overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of support during this difficult time. Palo Alto is such a treasure and I am so proud to be a part of such a wonderful community.
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Posted by Robin Modlin, a resident of another community, on Dec 3, 2012 at 6:45 pm Our family is very sad over the loss of John. We lived down the street from the Tuomys for 20 years in Greenmeadow before we moved 3 years ago. John was a wonderful man, a man to respect. We reach out to his family, Carolyn, Erin and Brian and send our love. The Modlins
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Posted by Deanna Messinger, a member of the Gunn High School community, on Dec 3, 2012 at 10:51 pm Clearly, Brian has been influenced by his father's steadfastness and dedication to education of our young people. My condolences go out to you and the family.
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Posted by Dispatcher X, a resident of another community, on Dec 5, 2012 at 1:21 am I took the 911 call on this and have wondered about the outcome. I am so sorry for his loss. My condolences to the family, and especially Carolyn.
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Posted by Jan Strand, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Dec 6, 2012 at 12:36 pm John student taught in my class of 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students during the '72-'73 school year at Barron Park school. It was obvious to me that he was dedicated and caring and that he would go on to be influential in education. I'm so sorry for this tragic loss.
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