Thomas Eugene Dahl

Thomas Eugene Dahl (Age 76) of Bethesda, MD died suddenly yet peacefully on Tuesday, January 3rd. He is survived by his wife, Naomi Greenwood, daughter, Susan Alabanza and husband Richard, son Will Dahl, stepsons David Kolko and Joshua Kolko and Joshua’s wife Lauren and children Rachel and Jacob, granddogs Remy and Eve, sister-in-law, Nola Dahl, brothers and sisters-in-law Nathaniel and Fania Greenwood, Arthur and Ann Kolko, Joel and Marcia Kolko, nieces Teresa Mueller, Debbie Dahl, Barbara Engelmeier, Vicki Haefele, Christianne Dalton, Mary Cotton, Emma and Haya Greenwood, Rebecca and Alexandra Kolko, and nephews, Daniel Dahl, Andy Suplee, Fred Suplee, Paul Suplee, Jonathan and Daniel Kolko, and Jonathan Greenwood. He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Dahl and mother, Rita (Truog) Dahl, brother James Dahl, sister Mary (Dahl) Suplee, and nephews James Dahl, Brian Suplee, Daniel Suplee, and Taj Dahl.

Shiva will be held at Congregation Beth El in Bethesda, MD on January 5, 2017 from 6:30-9:00 pm, with Minyan from 8:00-8:20 pm. Shiva will also be held at the residence on Friday, January 6, 2017 from 2-4 pm and Saturday, January 7 from 6:30-9 pm.

Tom was born on October 31, 1940 to Clarence and Rita Dahl in Pittsburgh, PA. After graduating from Central High School in 1958, he joined the Marines and served for 3 years. He was honorably discharged after being injured by a ceiling fan that flew off and hit him in the face, injuring his jaw and right eye. Tom then attended the University of Maryland where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Economics and American University where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate. He worked as an attorney at the Interstate Commerce Commission until retiring in 1998. Tom then began a second career working in the Mortgage Loan industry with Primex Mortgage Corporation for over 5 years until retiring a second time. Tom was married to Therese (Paduda) Dahl from 1967-1989 and had two children Susan and William. He married Naomi Greenwood on January 2,1999 and became the stepfather of Joshua and David Kolko.

Tom was known for his great sense of humor and always loved a good pun. He had a wide variety of interests including sailing, traveling, cooking, and barbecuing. Tom was also very artistic and enjoyed photography, glass work, construction, and architecture and design. He never met a dog he didn’t like.

Although he was raised as a Catholic, had considered the priesthood by attending a minor seminary high school for 3 years, after he met Naomi he became an active member of Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County. He was an enthusiastic participant in many classes there, as well as an ongoing study group. Tom enjoyed his contact with many of the congregants and felt close to the rabbis and cantors as well. He willingly attended some of the shorter services, could recite some of the prayers in Hebrew and knew quite a bit about the rituals at both synagogue and at home. In order to accommodate more guests, he was the driving force behind buying a larger sukkah which he would put up each year. He loved to host people there and in their home and was always a warm, welcoming host.

Tom was involved in two Men’s groups: The Romeos, which met weekly and also with a smaller neighborhood group. He was known to call “an Emergency Men’s group Meeting” if he wanted the guys to share a new wine or some beers he had purchased. He and Naomi participated in a neighborhood “Dining Group” and a Wine Tasting group which were vehicles for interacting and getting closer with other couples.

He felt very close to many people in the neighborhood and was glad to serve on the Burning Tree Village Board for several years. “Tikkun Olam “, that is repairing the world was an important value of his, whether donating his time, his skills, or charity in his own quiet way. He wanted to make a difference. That began in his upbringing, included being a Marshall in The March on Washington in 1963, and continued to the end of his life.

Tom loved keeping up with and spending time with family and was dearly loved by all of them. The love and acceptance by Naomi’s sons, grandchildren, other family and former in-laws was something he treasured.

He found a lot of joy in participating in family gatherings and celebrations, which were very important to him, and just hanging out with his family. He will be dearly missed by all.