Thomas Frederick Compo

Thomas Frederick Compo, 76, of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, passed on to his next existence on September 2, 2025, with his wife, Kathy, at his side. Tommy was born to Frederick Compo and Rena Von Fricken on July 17, 1949 in Troy, New York. Tommy would always proudly add its motto, shaking his fist in the air and shouting, “South Troy against the world!”

Tommy served three tours in the Navy during the Vietnam War. When Kathy confirmed the identity of his paternal grandfather, Tommy was delighted to find he was third generation Navy. Tommy was an ETN2 (electronics technician) and he used his skills throughout his civilian employment, teaching tech seminars in Australia, England, Slovenia, and Germany (and teaching it in German)! Tommy said that this was the way he made money, but his real profession (and passion) was as a photographer.

Because of Kathy’s 50 year obsession with the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, she always said that she would only marry a man who would wear tights, and Tommy was willing, but Kathy let him wear renaissance pants when they were married. It happened at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, in full “Princess Bride” regalia. And to make sure that Tommy never forgot an anniversary, Kathy chose a wedding date of July 17th, his birthday. They made it to their 21st anniversary.

True to his “mad scientist” nature, his belief in an afterlife was perfectly summarized by his idol, Albert Einstein: “Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another.”

Tommy was predeceased by his parents and infant brother, Timmy. Tommy is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Gamble) Compo, his sister Diane (Quinn) Milow Compo, and nephew Stephen (Molly) Milow, and their son, Briggs.

A memorial will be held at Kapala-Glodek-Malone funeral home on Friday, October 17th, 2025, from 1:00-5:00pm.