In Memoriam: Gary Thomas
Thomas, Gary Craig. Age 74, of St Paul, died peacefully in his sleep on August 29, 2019. Preceded in death by his parents, Lila and Cedric Thomas. Gary graduated in Music from UCLA (1966), and gained his PhD from Harvard in Germanic Languages and Literatures (1971). Receiving multiple offers of tenure-track positions at universities throughout the United States, he chose the University of Minnesota, where he held a professorship in the Humanities Program and Department of Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature from 1971 until retiring in 2014. An extraordinarily talented, award-winning teacher, Gary was also a generous adviser and a skilled administrator. He was at the national forefront of research on cultural issues surrounding sexuality, LGBT studies especially, and the history and theory of comedy. Gary was an outstanding musician on both piano and organ and an accomplished student of languages: fluent in Latin, German, and French. He was a dedicated master gardener, and a killer poker player. Not least, Gary was a superb chef and baker, his pies winning several awards at the Minnesota State Fair. He was blessed with a boundless sense of humor, joy, and curiosity and he held a deep sense of caring for his wide circle of friends.
A public memorial will be held on Saturday, Sept 28 (1:00-3:30 p.m., with program at 2:00) in Room 135 of Nicholson Hall, 216 Pillsbury Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 on the main campus of the University of Minnesota. Memorial donations to the Animal Humane Society MN in Gary’s name.
