H. Thomas NEBEL

We were blessed to have Tom in our lives from June 11, 1932 until
July 8, 2009 when complications from prostate cancer took him
from us. H. Thomas Nebel, known as "Tom" by his friends and
family, was born in Pittsburgh, PA. He attended and graduated
from Phillips Academy at Andover, going on to graduate from
Harvard College. After graduation from Harvard in the early '50's
he worked for IBM as a branch manager in Toledo Ohio before
leaving IBM to join Boothe International Leasing in San
Francisco. He took a year off to travel in Europe with his
family. When he returned to Boothe as an adviser to Mr. Boothe
and then (after the Board fired the top two officers) as
Executive Vice-President in charge of computer leasing. He
continued in that capacity until early 1979 when he left to
pursue other interests. Friends and family will smile in
remembrance each time they see a Peanuts comic, sit at the train
crossing and watch the cars move by or step onto a college
campus. Tom was generous in assisting young people reach their
educational goals while instilling a strong desire for all that
is available in life. He loved without reserve and taught many
who had not understood love to do the same. He is survived by his
beloved wife, Laurel Nebel, his three sons Jeffrey, Kelly and
David, daughters Nan Rowland and Carrie Cook and eleven
grand-children. Laurel will hold dearly their mutual enjoyment of
literature and art, and how he encouraged her to write and
publish two books of her own. Tom was chief editor, research
assistant and coffee-maker. All will remember his stories of his
Outward Bound trip with son David, stories of riding the rails
and even attending several hobo conventions. He was well versed
in geography by experience as well as maps and kept a collection
of his travel books nearby. Tom loved to teach others about the
world he had traveled and was quick to pull a dictionary to
assist anyone that had not caught up to his vast vocabulary.
Memorial services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church
of Bellevue, August 1 at 10:00 a.m., with a reception following.
Those who may wish to are asked to make a gift to the college of
their choice. Sign Tom's on-line Guest Book at www.Legacy.com.

Published in The Seattle Times on 7/26/2009