Thomas Guy Fanning died on March 25, 2020. He was born in Phoenix, AZ to Frances (nee Morrison) and Thomas Earl Fanning, but grew up in the family home town Kenosha, WI.
He was the first in his family to go to college and received BS (1965) and Ph.D. degrees (1970) in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin. He spent 5 years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cologne, where he met his future wife Gisela Heidecker. The couple moved to Davis, CA and in 1984 to Maryland. His research at the University of California, National Cancer Institute and finally at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, centered on retroviruses and the 1918 influenza virus. His work in the latter project was recognized with several scientific prizes.
The couple first lived in Gaithersburg and moved to Frederick in 2004. Tom was a man with a unique sense of humor, and made everyone laugh. He had a tremendous curiosity about everything and was an insatiable reader evidenced by the thousands of books in his library. Tom was knowledgeable about everything from Italian cinema to brain development and learning. He loved music and had a vast collection of classical, opera, jazz and rock CDs. He was a life-long fan of his home football teams, the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers.
He is survived by his wife Gisela, his sister Mary Foust of Kenosha, in-law family in Germany and many dear friends and god children. A memorial is planned at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Society for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at AAAS Philanthropy Office, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005.
Thomas Geary
Tom Sorensen notified me recently that he was undertaking to read some of Tom Fanning's scholarly publications on the subject of pandemic viruses -- a daunting venture to be sure, inasmuch as Dr. Fanning authored over 70 of them. Sorensen (every actor in this eulogy is named Tom; surnames are strictly for purposes of disambiguation) went on to observe that it was noteworthy that Fanning had not been heard from in the context of Covid-19. Considering his seminal research on the 1918 influenza pandemic, it is no exaggeration to posit that few people on the planet are better qualified to share such thoughts.
I decided to look into this as well and was deeply saddened to discover the obituary reprinted above. I won't argue with anyone who suggests that I might have made this discovery somewhat earlier. Suffice it to say that each of us Toms encountered tortuous paths in our efforts to contact either of the others over the years. Parenthetically, Fanning spent many years -- decades even -- unaware that news of my death had reached him prematurely. We were never able to determine how, although we didn't rule out someone's wishful thinking.
My friendship with Tom Fanning is one of the greatest of my life, despite the wide gaps that beset it. Having met at Columbus School, we were close to inseparable for a time that extended to Lincoln Junior High. As you know, Tom did not join the rest of us as we moved through Bradford, and he and I largely lost track of one another. We had a brief reunion at his parents' house when we were both in graduate school and we endeavored to stay in touch. That didn't work out too well.
Mostly through Sorensen's diligent efforts, the three of us forged a reunion at Fanning's home in Maryland where we met Gisela, caught up on each other's lives (including the fact that I still had one), laughed uproariously, and vowed to do it again. We managed only one more.
Although Tom was not a member of our graduating class, many of us knew him and are the better for it. His life's work may well have affected more people than that of most -- mine, certainly.
Finally, I am very grateful to Sandi for bending the rules and creating this platform for remembering Dr. Thomas G. Fanning, Class of 1961.
Tom Geary
Jack Siebert
Tom (Geary that is); thank you for the lovely tribute to Dr.Thomas Guy Fanning. I did not know him but am pleased and proud to know that he is a Kenoshan and that some of you were his friends. He truly did lead a memorable life and I am sure that we are all the better for it.
Sheryl LaFayette
I knew Tom at Columbus Elementary School, but completely lost track of him. I remember him as a really nice kid, and am sorry to hear of his passing. Sending love and light to the family.
Thomas Sorensen
Thomas Sorensen
Tom Geary and myself were most privileged to share laughter together with Tom Fanning at his home in Fredrick Maryland. The three Toms were old buds from Columbus and Lincoln jr high, then Tom and I shared time at UW where Tom began his career in genetics, later to become biology editor of Scientic American magazine. His wife in her very humble way very deftly avoided flashing his scientific achievements, just as she would avoid her own achievements(on team isolating HIV for the first time). His achievements were many when he retired as professor emeritus from John Hopkins medical school. Thou I laud him for his scientific accomplishments, his lasting value to Tom Geary and I was that of an example of a courageous man who overcame outrageous obstacles in life to rise above those circumstances to a place where he could serve all men. He never lost true north on his moral compass.
Donna Parkinson (Voss)
I did not know him but what a wonderful productive life! Proud of this fellow Kenoshean! Condolences to his family and friends.
Carol Kramer (Miller)
I only went to Columbus school for 6th grade so I did not know Tom. Sorry to hear of his passing and my condolences to his family.