Thomas Jerome Frieling

Born in Cincinnati, OH, Tom was the second son of William C. and Mary Walsh Frieling, who with their growing family relocated to Birmingham, AL, in 1961. Tom was graduated in 1971 from John Carroll Catholic High School, where he ran track, served on the student newspaper staff, and made a circle of lifelong friends. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1976 and his master’s degree in library science from the University of Alabama in 1978.

Tom’s first job after completing his MLS degree was as assistant librarian at Bainbridge College in Georgia, beginning work in the fall of 1978. That first semester, he met another new faculty member in the BC humanities department, Barbara Johnston, whom he married on December 15, 1979. Tom was promoted to library director in 1987, and the Frielings served together on the BC faculty until December 2005, when Tom was hired as the director of access services at the University of Georgia. He retired in 2011, having served in the University System of Georgia for thirty-four years.

A lifelong observer of the US manned space program, Tom reviewed space related books for Library Journal for many years and was himself the author of numerous articles on the Apollo program. He attended launches of both Saturns and Shuttles, often as the guest of NASA, holding both VIP and press credentials over the years. In 1985, he testified before the US National Commission on Space and had the pleasure of meeting Neil Armstrong, who served on the distinguished panel. Tom was listed in the 1994 edition of Who’s Who in America.

From boyhood, Tom enjoyed building and flying model rockets, with his launches becoming a beloved family tradition. He enjoyed several memorable backpacking trips on the Appalachian Trail, including a close encounter with a mother bear who absconded with his backpack, dragging it back to share his provisions with her two cubs. He never lost his affection for the music of the Sixties and loved to discuss musicians and lyrics with family and friends. He loved the heat of summer and the beaches of the Forgotten Coast, spending many sunny days on St. George Island as well as contented evenings eating seafood in Apalachicola. But the Christmas season held a very special place in Tom’s heart, and he filled his home with Christmas carols throughout each December. He was a loyal friend and a devoted husband throughout his life and took great pleasure in the time he spent with his precious Siamese cats: Zoe, Bella, and Maisie.

Although Tom only lived in Cincinnati for the first eight years of his life, he never wavered in his loyalty to the Cincinnati Reds. Among his greatest joys in retirement were several trips to the Great American Ballpark. His love of travel took him and Barbara on, numerous trips to Europe, often as leaders of student and community study groups in the art and architecture of London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, and many archaeological and historic sites in Greece. He also participated in a library administration seminar at Oxford University in 2005.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife Barbara, of Ocala; his son Garth (Elizabeth) Frieling of Appalachia, VA; his brother Bill Frieling and his sister Kathleen (John) Wood, all of Birmingham, AL; and his sister Maryanne Simeone of Huntsville, AL.

Tom’s family has requested that those friends who would like to honor his memory make a contribution to their favorite charity or that they donate to Second Harvest Food Bank, a group that was close to his heart.

A family prayer service will be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home this Thursday at 3:00 pm with the Reverend Frans Van Santen of Grace Episcopal Church officiating. A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at a later time.