Thomas S Vukson

Thomas S. Vukson unexpectedly passed away on August 17, 2026. He will be deeply missed by his mother, Nanette Wingrove; his brother, Martin Vukson; and his special sister and nephew, Denice and Aiden Kocher. He is also survived by many loving cousins, aunts, and uncles who will carry his memory in their hearts and lament the loss of such a unique, incredible person.

Tommy leaves behind a wonderful circle of friends in Chicago, including his roommate, Rob, and scores more from Bridgeport to Indiana and beyond. He was also deeply loved by his significant other, Julianna, who is heartbroken by his passing. Simply put: he was a ray of light that touched all corners of his world.

Tommy was a chemist, most recently employed by the University of Chicago Chemistry Department. His curiosity was one of the things that made him so special; he took his work home with him, and it was pretty common to stumble upon an unlabeled bottle he had designs on toying with. Chemistry was an important part of his life, but his passions reached far beyond his work. He loved gardening, cooking and baking, writing at length about the metaphysical, the mystical, and pondering life’s biggest questions. We can only hope that in his passing he’s found peace and the answers he sought.

Tommy was up for anything, whether solo or with his friends. He enjoyed skateboarding, biking, bowling, movies, and especially music. He had seven guitars - as if he wasn’t enough of a rockstar in life - that he restored, worked on, and played frequently. He also enjoyed late-night online gaming sessions with his friends and his brother, Marty. Family was a big part of his life, and he leaned on them as much as they did on him. Whether it was helping throw a birthday party for Mom in Ohio or hosting in Chicago, he was always there to celebrate or simply shoot the breeze and be a comforting presence.

Tommy was constantly learning, wondering, exploring, and finding new things to investigate. He learned early on from his mother the importance of having a project to work on; rarely could you find him without his mind percolating about a new adventure or a way to stay busy. He had a unique way of seeing the world, evidenced by his wide range of interests and of those who will miss him. He brought his own special energy to everything and brought people together — it was impossible to be in a bad mood when Tommy smiled. There is no way to fully express how much Tommy's absence will be felt. His family, Julianna, his friends, and all those who loved him will miss his voice, his laughter and sarcasm, his way of caring for those he loved. His was a fire gone out far too soon.

Tommy's life was the people he loved, the questions that fascinated him, the music he played, the things he created for those around him. But more than that, it was his active mind and spirit that all of us were blessed to bask in. That is what we will miss most about him. The ability to make us think and feel with our full hearts whenever we were in his orbit; Tommy truly was an astronaut. May we all count ourselves lucky to have shared his universe with him.

Plans for a celebration of Tommy’s life are still pending, but will be in Dayton, Ohio, in September.

(Obituary lovingly written by dear friend, Mike Barton.)