I met Tom through a mutual friend and found him to be a very peculiar, and interesting person. I consider myself to be a big Star Wars and Star Trek fan, but  I pale in comparison to Tom. He loved both universes, and he especially loved the music. I'll never forget the surprise Comic Con Star Wars concert in  2015 and how much Tom said that felt like a rock star up on stage. He will be missed.

When I joined the San Diego Symphony I was just out of school and had moved to a brand new city by myself. I was in completely new territory professionally and Tom was one of the first people in the orchestra to reach out and make me feel welcome right from the start! He was always a cheerful presence backstage, and I can still hear his voice saying ‘Hi Catie!’ while unpacking our instruments. He always had anecdotes about returning guest conductors, or pieces the orchestra had played years before, and I felt so lucky to have him share his knowledge of the Symphony with me. His love for the Symphony was so clear and obvious and it made me proud to be a part it with him. He was a meticulous stand partner and sitting with him I knew all the markings would be done so neatly and cleanly and nothing would be unclear. He also was an enthusiastic foot shuffler and when I was nervous about an exposed divisi part he always made me feel comfortable. It was always a treat sitting with him. 

Tom loved nature and appreciating everything San Diego had to offer. He would remind me when it was a full moon, or when the sunset was supposed to be especially beautiful and I really appreciated these little reminders! He frequently brought his iPad mini to work and showed me pictures of the latest excursion he went on. The wildflower bloom in the desert, or walks along the beach where he captured the sunset. He was constantly exploring and letting me know his favorite cafes and restaurants. 

Thank you Tom, for your conversations, support and friendship. He helped make my time in San Diego so special, and is dearly missed. 

Tom was always full of helpful advice and was very supportive. I met him when we were both at the Aspen Music Festival. He was about to begin his career as a member of the San Diego Symphony and I was going back to Eastman School of Music for my senior year.  For most of the thirty years I knew him, I lived in Maryland and Tom lived in California.  Because of the type of person he was, he still managed to be a wonderful friend who would keep in touch by sending friendly emails and if I happened to be online when he was taking a break from practicing his viola, we’d sometimes chat through Facebook messages. I always appreciated the effort he made to come visit me and my family whenever he was in town visiting his family in Virginia. I was looking forward to seeing him this past September and was disappointed when he cancelled due to not feeling well. I was very sad to see the in Memoriam notice on his Facebook page. I miss you my friend!

 



I had met Tom through our mutual love of Star Trek. We initially met chatting in the Star Trek convention group, and became Facebook friends. We would chat sometimes and catch up, and shared stories about conventions and our love of Sci Fi. We met in person this past July in San Diego at SDCC, and he was just as nice in person as he had been on Facebook. I'll remember him as a kind man who became my friend and shared his love of music and Sci Fi with me. I'm grateful to have known him.


Upon moving to San Diego, my first services with the Symphony will always bring memories of those who were welcoming of a new musician, and Tom was at the top of the list.  Always eager to share recommendations whether it be a set of Hoffmeister etudes unknown to me, or places to get late night food. 

Tom’s level of respect for his colleagues went beyond his admiration for the talent of those he shared the stage with. I will always appreciate how much care Tom took to make sure his colleagues were comfortable, including the countless instances he insured that stage hands brought me a sound shield even when I didn’t find it necessary.

I always enjoyed watching Tom’s amazement and affection for the guest artists who would come to town, often unable to avoid the temptation of snapping pictures while on stage with his digital camera, or his iPad (he was very hesitant to switch to a smartphone) .

Tom’s love of the Symphony was unmistakable and I will remember him for the dedication he always brought, as well as his desire for the Symphony to continue to grow artistically and beyond. 

I have had the pleasure of sitting with Tom in the viola section countless times during my three years here in the San Diego Symphony. Tom was a great stand partner- very sensitive and always made sure I was comfortable. He was very diligent and methodical in writing in the bowings and other markings which I always appreciated. His penmanship was impeccable and his eraser never smudged ;). He had this little book he kept on him during rehearsals and would write quotes that the conductor said as well as various other things that took place during our rehearsals.  I always wondered what he wrote down and regrettably never asked. 

Tom and I had a lot in common outside of orchestra with our love of Sci-Fi, the weather and the outdoors.  Tom would always notify me when a storm was coming and then check back in the next day asking for all the information my weather station had recorded.   His favorite weather event in San Diego was whenever an ‘atmospheric river’ would hit.  Tom loved to watch the sunset and was always happy to share with me his favorite places to hike locally on the coast and around Anza-Borrego. We had many discussions on the best places to see the wildflowers bloom in spring. 

I was lucky to get to sit with Tom for a lot of the Sci-Fi concerts that the Symphony performed.   I will always remember Tom at his happiest at the Star Wars event on the Bay during Comic-Con week when all the original Star Wars cast members were on stage. We were both giddy little kids reliving our favorite film while playing our favorite John Willams score. 

Tom – you were a wonderful person and a great violist who loved the orchestra and always looked out for the well-being of your fellow musicians.  You will be forever missed in our section and I hope you are resting in a beautiful place we can’t even imagine.  

Tom and I go way back.  We were  schoolmates at the Manhattan School of Music. I remember being stand partners with Tom and it was a lot of fun.  He also studied conducting there.  As fate would have it, Tom and I both ended up winning  a viola position with the San Diego Symphony.  Tom's devotion to music, wonderful sense of humor and compassion made him a top notch colleague. I could always rely on Tom to figure out a difficult page turn.  He was always prepared, even at every summer pops. (We had fun there too).
 Tom had an amazing love of nature. He'd travel to the desert at springtime to see the cactus bloom and send me beautiful photos.  Not too long ago Tom and I walked along Sunset Cliffs Natural Park to enjoy the plants and ocean.  We had a good time.
It was an honor to know Tom and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his family members.  

There is a bluff where you can see all the way East to the hills and the horizon, and, turning west from the same spot,  you can see the ocean.  Tom, every full moon, would catch the sunset, and, a few moments later, would set up his tripod in a special spot, and wait for the moon to rise over the hills.  Most of the time it was spectacular, and, every once in awhile, our conversation went like this:

"I think it's going to rise over there.  I see a glow!"

"No, those are lights from the city."

"Isn't it 6:43 yet?  Where is it?"

"It has to rise over the hills."

"But we're elevated!"

"I think the fog is too thick.  Maybe we'll see it later."

(The questions and lack of patience were my lines.  The ones with wisdom, knowledge, and patience were Tom's.)

Three days after he died the full moon rose in all her beauty.  I will be there for the next full moon, same place, on La Jolla Scenic Way North, 4:47 p.m., on November 22nd, and thinking of Tom.

I first met Tom back in year of 2005 when I got an one year contract to play with the orchestra.  His warm personality and sensitive yet elegant style of playing immediately struck me as a rookie in the symphonic world.  After several conversations over coffee, I found his broad knowledge to all work he performs really demonstrates the incredible amount of effort and deep commitment as an orchestral musician.  Over the past 13 years, I found his professionalism has been the most consistent which I have come to absolutely admired and cherished.  Of course, being his stand partner for many years, I will miss all his sarcastic jokes and the signature foot stomps which very few people can master.  

Thank you, Tom, for all you have done for all of us!!

When I moved to San Diego in 2007 to take the position of Director of Education & Community Engagement with the San Diego Symphony, Tom was the first musician to reach out to me. He sent me a brief email introducing himself and told me how he wanted to use his outreach services – to coach young students on the viola. He was a dedicated teacher, always looking for ways to share his knowledge and love of music with the next generation. He also took our assistant conductors under his wing to give them gentle and thoughtful advice and conducting tips when youth concerts didn’t go exactly as planned. Over the years we developed a good friendship and I saw that he had an unfailing commitment to the Symphony. I will miss his quirky sense of humor, his passion for music, and his elegant way of playing the viola. Rest in peace, Tom. 

Tom was one of the first members of the San Diego Symphony that I met when I became the Production Manager in 2001 and we always had a good conversation as we passed each other backstage.  He and I had Star Wars and Star Trek in common and he went out of his way to share some of the fun things that my girls might like - I think he was secretly trying to make them "Trekies" (or "Trekers" depending on your Generation - LOL).  
I loved his sense of humor and his kind heart and am sad knowing he no longer graces us with his talent and passion.
Tom, may your spirit live long and prosper in all of us my friend.


Tom was my nephew.  My wife Carolyn and I did not realize how serious Tom was about music until he visited us in the seventies.  While his parents did genealogy research in Atlanta, Georgia, Tom practiced at least six hours a day on the viola.  All he did was play and eat.  Tom was always interested in his uncle's musical avocation -- when ever he got a new saxophone, pictures had to be made and sent to Tom.  During Tom's last visit with his uncle and aunt, his uncle serenaded Tom with his new alto sax. "May you be with the force, Tom".

Tom and I were colleagues in the San Diego Symphony for many years.  I remember that Tom really helped me out one time when I was returning to work after months of not playing due to an injury. He shared a lot of info and watched me play, helping me get back on track.  He was a good colleague and will be missed. 

I knew Tom as a colleague at the San Diego Symphony for 8 years. As one of our “elder statesmen” he set a wonderful example of professionalism - he was always on time, always prepared, calmly and without a fuss adding his viola’s voice to the choir of the orchestra. Rest In Peace Tom.

I met Tom during my two years as a student at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music.  He was a fine musician, a fun guy and a caring friend.  I am happy that we were able to reconnect again, a few years back, through Facebook.  My condolences to Tom's family.

I knew Tom as a very talented viola student at the St. Louis Conservatory of music, and later he went on to study in New York He was a gentle kind soul who had achieved his career goal of playing in a major symphony orchestra.  May his soul Rest In Peace.

I had the privilege of studying at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music with Tom in the late 70's and early 80's. Tom was always positive, passionate, and a completely authentic human being.  I am saddened by his passing. I wish he could have known how very many people loved and admired him, and how many lives he touched.  

OBITUARY

Thomas Albert Morgan

1 February, 1962 – 21 October, 2018

El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park

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