Thomas Eugene Halvorsen

Tom was born in Peoria, Illinois, on May 29, 1945, to Eugene Halvorsen and Minnie L. Weers. Raised in Denver, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in modern languages. After graduation, Tom began his professional career with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company.

While climbing the ranks in the insurance business, Tom also pursued his true passion on the stage. His beautiful baritone voice made him a winner in the national finals of the Metropolitan Opera Company and the San Francisco Opera. During this time, he performed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the Denver Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Opera.

In 1979, Tom moved to Jacksonville to pursue opportunities with Independent Life Insurance Company, then started his own business, the Midland Halvorsen Group. He worked as a financial consultant and estate planner for 50 years. In Jacksonville, Tom also performed with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

While opera granted him facility in several languages including Italian, French, and German, it was the Latin of his religious life in the Catholic church that sparked this love of language and music. A lifelong Catholic, he drew strength from faith and often engaged in an academic study of religion.

When not singing or working, Tom enjoyed spending time with family, playing tennis, and riding his bike. He was mechanically minded and particularly enjoyed tinkering with cars and building HO scale model trains.

Tom is survived by his wife, Nancy Pittman Halvorsen; his brothers, Timothy and Patrick Halvorsen; his sister, Christina Sandoval; his children, Mary Kathryn Acampora, Erich Halvorsen, Christine Halvorsen, and Lauren Higbee; his grandchildren, Thomas and Jonathan Acampora, and Tristen Howe; and his cat, Minnie.

A memorial service will be held at Southside Methodist Church in Jacksonville on Friday, February 20, at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Tom’s memory to Catholic Charities.