Thomas Koenig Obituary, Death – Thomas Koenig passed away at home in Anthem, Arizona, surrounded by his wife and their daughter, Tara. Tom Koenig was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 11th to Ervin and Annette Koenig. After graduating from Hillcrest High School in Dallas, Texas, where he excelled in the classroom and on the sports field, he was recognized a Distinguished Alumnus. Several collegiate football programs have showed interest in Tom. He went to Southern Methodist University, where he was named team captain, was an Academic All-American for two years, competed in the Hula Bowl, and appeared live on The Today Show in New York City. He earned a full scholarship to attend Southern Methodist University.
He was inducted into the SMU Hall of Fame in 1985. Dr. Harold Jeskey was a significant figure in Tom’s life and had a significant impact on him. He persuaded Tom to go to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for his doctorate in Organic Chemistry. Tom joined the University of Oregon faculty at the age of 25, and he was tenured in less than a year. Tom was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and spent his time in Switzerland and France. Tom kept in touch with his former students, two of whom indicated he had a life-changing impact on them.
Tom had a reputation for being a responsible, diligent, respectful, and generous person throughout his life. He worked as a paper boy, in a meat processing plant, as a “worm” on an oil rig, and as a choker setter in the Oregon forests, among other things. He displayed his expertise in electrical work, plumbing, and carpentry while renovating his several residential rental buildings. “You can achieve more than you think you can, and now we will,” is one of our favorite quotes.
Tom retired at the age of 55 and immediately embarked on an ambitious travel itinerary that brought him across the United States many times, as well as to South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and all over Europe via rail and river cruises. His devoted wife Bonnie, his daughters Lizbeth Golombek (Fabio), Nannette Freidman (Joel), and Tara Reilly, his son Josh Koenig (Rina), and his sister Carolyn McMurtray are among those who will carry on his legacy. Tom has nine grandchildren, the oldest of whom is 28 years old and the youngest of whom is 18 months old.