Thomas Leo

Thomas was born in Marburg, Germany on June 17, 1925. His father, Ulrich, was a professor of Romance languages and a related descendant of Felix Mendelssohn, a well-known composer. His mother, Helene, grew up in a small town in Poland. During the Nazi occupation, his parents sent Thomas and his younger brother, Bill, to a Quaker boarding school in Eerde, Holland. Thomas said that the Quakers at Eerde influenced his efforts to be worthy of being Quaker.

Thomas's family finally left Germany and resettled in Venezuela in 1938. With help from Quakers in the Palo Alto area and Dr. Esther Clark, Thomas and Bill came to California, where they attended and graduated from Palo Alto High School. Thomas then attended Stanford University, where he graduated with undergraduate and medical degrees. As part of his postgraduate training, he spent two years in alternative service providing medical care to American Indians in Whiteriver, Arizona.

He taught in New York for several years, and then returned to California where he had a private medical practice until he retired in 2002. Thomas met his wife, Emily, at San Jose Friends Meeting, where they were married in 1972, and he became a member of the Meeting in March 1975. Five of their children, Paul, Ivan, Karin, David and Elisabeth, attended First Day School at various times when they were young.

Thomas and Emily served as representatives to College Park Quarterly and Pacific Yearly Meetings, and also attended the North Pacific Yearly Meeting twice. He had an active concern for the environment and was a member of the Peace and Social Order Committee for both San Jose Friends and Pacific Yearly Meeting. He had a special interest in the treatment of migrant workers in California. Throughout his life, he was an example to his children and friends in caring for others and for the environment.

Thomas loved music of many types. He sang baritone with the Santa Clara Choral from 1972 – 2005 (33 years), and he and Emily attended many symphony and musical theater performances. For many years, Thomas shared his love of music with San Jose Friends by arranging for us to sing Christmas carols to his patients, after which he and Emily opened their home to us for refreshments and fellowship. Another of Thomas' interests was astronomy, which he also shared with meeting members by hosting late night viewings of the planets and stars through his telescope.

In 2012, Thomas and Emily moved to Pebble Beach, California, where he enjoyed driving and walking along the seashore and spending time in their garden. He and Emily attended the Monterey Peninsula Friends Meeting and participated in various activities there. He passed away peacefully at home with his wife and daughter present. He said that although he was not a perfect person, his wish was to be understood, missed and remembered.