My father was known beyond his family for many things: mathematical brilliance, a love of travel, food, and culture. But something many people may not know is that his greatest quality was none of these things. To me, without a doubt, it was his enthusiasm - innocent, wide-eyed, and wonderfully child-like.  
For his 70th birthday, my husband and I surprised him with a baseball game at Yankee Stadium.  Just the idea sent him over the moon.  His eyes wide with excitement, his energy immediate and uncontainable.  I’ll never forget how happy he looked with those tickets raised high in his hand, his deep blue eyes lit up and sparkling as if he had won the lottery.  
But now, in retrospect, I realize it was, in fact, all of us who had won in those magical, fleeting moments of pure, innocent joy.
- His loving daughter, Megan

Tom was my mentor (at NASA) for a long time, and then a good friend.  He was amazingly smart and talented.  Few people in the world understood "turbulence modeling for CFD" better.  He had a knack for deep insight and an innate ability for explaining even complex ideas in a very clear manner.  We semi-regularly met for lunch at UNO's (our "go to" place) to talk about NASA, politics, (and sometimes NASA politics), our families, his many travels, and of course turbulence.  "Keep the Cokes/Diet Cokes coming; we'll be chatting for a while" was Tom's directive to the waiter (although in recent years we both realized that we had to put a bit of a cap on the Cokes).  I will miss him more than I can say.

Best times, playing wiffle ball and hand ball with Lew and John in our back yard..And our Neighborhood in Hollars Hill. We didn’t have much but we never felt poor. That’s a testament to our parents.. Will always think about you in my quiet time..

I met Tom for the first time during my PhD back in th 90's when he was a guest researcher at the Swiss Institute of Technology.  Since then, Tom has been a key figure in my education, values, and philosophy of life. He teached me so many things, from science and academic protocol, to life strategy and social tactics - he was a great mentor, and a real friend. 

He was also a great family man, and my thoughts are with Rosann and Megan who have lost a husband and a father.

He will stay alive in my mind for ever.

Thibauld - one of Tom's supporters from Belgium

Rosann, our deepest sympathies to you and your family during this difficult time. Tom was a great colleague and a dear friend. His years in Poitiers have left an excellent memory to all those who met him. He will be missed. Remi and his family

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Thomas Bernard Gatski

August 30, 1948 – September 3, 2020

Nelsen Williamsburg

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