Thomas E Fairey

Thomas Eugene Fairey (Tom), unexpectedly died in his sleep at Querencia on Sunday morning 25 January, with Judy, his wife of 69 years, by his side. Born in Amarillo in 1931, Tom was just short of his 95th birthday.

Tom’s childhood was multi-faceted, including a year in Hollywood and an appearance in the Gene Autry movie ‘The Sagebrush Troubador’; a legislative session as page for a State Senator, followed by a session as page for the Lieutenant Governor, Coke Stevenson; and teenage years living on the family farm in Austin (just northwest of E. Parmer Lane and the current Harris Branch Parkway) spent milking 40 cows, raising cotton, riding horses, and running 100 head of beef cattle. Tom then lived with his family on Manor Road near the old Municipal Airport while obtaining his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Out of college, in 1953, he joined the Nuclear Design Group for Westinghouse Electric Corporation’s Atomic Power Division in Pittsburgh and ultimately became its director. He conducted early research on nuclear reactor stability and control, eventually managing the nuclear design group of physicists for the Nautilus, Skate, Sargo, and Swordfish nuclear submarine projects. During this time, he ‘requisitioned’ a Univac computer programmer, Judith Gund of Lakewood, Ohio, also working for Westinghouse. Fortunately for us all, she agreed to marry him despite his having to his name only a 1929 Steinway grand piano, half an airplane, a sunken sailboat, and a note at the bank.

On their return to Austin in 1959, Tom became CEO of an industrial machinery distribution company and grew the business to over $40 million in annual sales over thirty years. During this time, he developed and managed the implementation of database systems to streamline business processes. He eventually evolved into a technology consultant for an array of clients. In Tom’s career he founded an astonishing 29 companies and pioneered technology and business solutions for all of them. His extensive knowledge of business processes and business management propelled him to be an early leader and adopter of technology. Over his life, he also served on numerous boards of directors.

An avid pilot from before he graduated from college, Tom owned and flew 16 different single- and twin-engine airplanes, largely for business purposes, but also for many pleasure trips with his family and friends. Large photos of his last airplane, a Cessna 421C turbo-prop, and of the Nautilus surfacing after its final test run, alongside a personal letter from Admiral Rickover thanking him for his significant contributions to the Naval Reactors Physics Handbook, Volume II, hung in his home office and by his final bedside.

Tom was many things over the course of his long life, including: multi-talented musician, big band member, child actor, dairy farmer, hunter, electrical engineer, nuclear physicist, nuclear submarine engineer, pilot, teacher, businessman, tech nerd, board member, and, perhaps most importantly, son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

Tom will be remembered for his kindness and intelligence, devotion and loyalty, his stubbornness and fierce defense of his beliefs, his smile and the twinkle in his eyes, his flirtatiousness, his stash of peanut butter and treats, his ability to explain seemingly anything to anyone at the appropriate level of detail required, and his storytelling.

He was predeceased by his older daughter, Kim Elizabeth Fairey. He is survived by his wife, Judith Gund Fairey; his younger daughter, Kristen Fairey of Presque Isle, MI; five grandchildren, Jennie Lewis (Nischay Maridevegowda) of Dedham, MA, Eric Mayer (Katy) of Sonoma, CA; Christopher Mayer (Ana) of Houston, TX; Sarah Lewis (Andrew Sinclair) of Presque Isle, MI; and Heather Mayer (Chris Wall) of Surrey, UK; one great-grandchild, Ema Mayer (Houston); sister-in-law, Mary Gund Farr (Hap); and several nieces and nephews; along with several beloved ‘surrogate’ children, and many treasured friends, lifelong and ‘new’.

Tom’s friends are invited to a gathering to remember his wonderful life at Tarry House on Thursday, 5 February at 2 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Tom’s name to your preferred charity.