Thomas
Wisner GAHAN Age 73. Born April 8, 1933 in
Tacoma
,
Wa
, died 10-31-06 on
Orcas Island
,
WA
-after an 8 year battle with Parkinson's disease. Tom was the 4th child of
George and Myra Gahan. Tom was a graduate of
St. Joseph
Grade School
in
Seattle
and
Seattle
Prep
High School
where he was Student Body President and valedictorian. He graduated from
Seattle
University
and earned a Master's Degree at
Gonzaga
University
. He joined the Jesuit Seminary in 1951 and taught at Seattle Prep for two
years. After leaving the Jesuit Order in 1961, he worked for the Dept of
Defense as a teacher in Europe,
Turkey
,
Washington
D.C.
, and later as a librarian in the
Philippines
and
Korea
. In the
Philippines
he adopted 3 boys: Richard George, Roger Lorenzo, and Diego Jack. Tom is
survived by his sons: Richard (Mariah), Roger (Karen), and Diego, and one
grandson, Kyzer and his siblings: Gerry M. Gahan, Jane T. Hughes, Jack H.
Gahan, and Larry J. (Roxana) Gahan, and 55 nieces and nephews. Tom
purchased his dream property on
Waldron
Island
(San Juans). Here he raised his 3 active boys; later he moved to
Orcas
Island
so the boys could attend high school. Tom's loves were his boys, his
books, his music, and his Waldron home and community. He will be terribly
missed for his intelligence, his goodness, and his humor. Everyone loved
him dearly. He will be buried on
Waldron
Island
as he wished. On Nov. 8 at 10:00 a.m. there will be a Memorial Mass
followed by a reception at
Assumption
Church
,
6201 33rd Ave. NE
,
Seattle
,
WA
. Contributions may be made to the Jesuits,
P.O. Box 86010
,
Portland
,
OR
92286
.
