Two CAS members mourned

The College of Arts and Sciences is saddened by the recent loss of two highly regarded members of our community: Thomas J. Gazzola, a mathematics instructor at WSU Vancouver, and Thomas L. Kennedy, a retired professor of history who also had served as interim dean for the then-College of Sciences and Arts and as WSU vice-provost for instruction.

Tom Gazzola

A well-liked and effective instructor, Gazzola loved being in the classroom, helping students learn. He joined the WSU math faculty in 2014 after a successful K-12 career teaching English. Gazzola was also a competitive puzzler who led a 40-person team to victory in the international MIT Mystery Hunt in January.

He died on June 10 at the age of 55. Services will be held July 5, 2015, at the Doubletree Inn in Portland, Ore. Memorial donations can be made to the ALS Association of Oregon and SW Washington.

 

Tom Kennedy

Kennedy joined faculty in the Department of History in 1970 and retired as a full professor in 2001. During his tenure at WSU Pullman, he was instrumental in developing the Asia Program and the World Civilizations component of the undergraduate graduation requirements.

Before completing his doctoral degree and coming to WSU, Kennedy served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked for the National Security Administration. He remained in Pullman after his retirement and enjoyed square dancing, fishing, and traveling. He died on June 5 at the age of 85. Memorial donations can be sent to Xavier High School, his alma mater in New York.