A Celebration of Life, Tom Teepen, January 19, 1935-April 16, 2017, Mason Fine Art, June 18, 2017, 1:00-5:00pm

A Celebration of Life
Tom Teepen
January 19, 1935 -April 16, 2017

Mason Fine Art

June 18th, 2017

1:00 - 5:00pm

About Ton1
Tom was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Blanche and Albert Teepen. An only child, he spent his first five years in Mobile, Alabama, until the family relocated to his father's hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1940. Tom was always proud that he had the opportunity to grow up in Greenhills, a Cincinnati suburb, which was one of three "greenbelt communities" built shortly after WWI.
It was in Greenhills that his love for books, music, and politics grew. His early love of opera and experiences as a drummer and drum major in his high school marching band were passions that invariably formed the central core of his life. Tom developed an uncanny knack for picking out individual sounds, rhythms and melodies in even the most complex music compositions. At age eight, he was able to convince his straight-laced mother to let him take the train to hear opera at the Cincinnati Zoo and later Jazz clubs in downtown Cincinnati.
After high school, Tom attended Ohio University in Athens, OH. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and learned that astronomy is different from stargazing. During this time, he met and married Nancy Roux. After graduation, they moved to Urbana, OH, where Tom began his career in journalism as a reporter and photographer. From Urbana, it was on to the Xenia Gazette and Tom and Nancy settled down in Yellow Springs. After moving to Yellow Springs, Kristina Lynn was born and two years later, Jeremy Roux.
Tom began working as an editorial writer for the Dayton Daily News; the start of what was to be a lifelong association with Cox Newspapers. In 1968, as a member of the editorial board, the Dayton Daily News supported his Fel lowship at Stanford University. The family moved to Palo Alto, California and Tom studied his personal and professional passions: African History and politics. The Fellowship was quickly followed by an extended tour of African nations, cementing his knowledge with first-hand experiences. Tom subsequently became the Editorial Page Editor for the Dayton Daily News.
In the early 70's, Tom and Nancy divorced. Then in 1975, Tom and Sandy were married. Tom, Sandy, her daughter Jenni, along with Kris and Jere, became a family; "a family of spare parts." as Jere would later note.
By 1982, the parent company of the Dayton Daily News, Cox Enterprises, invited Tom and Sandy to move to Atlanta, Georgia where Tom would take over as the Editorial Page Editor for the Atlanta Constitution (later the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Tom became a syndicated political columnist for Cox Enterprises, a speaker on political news shows, and a "minor celebrity in [his] own mind"; a position he held until his retirement in 2002.
Tom and Sandy fell in love with the art, food, and music scene that Atlanta provided. They enjoyed living in Midtown and really fe lt like they were part of a big city. His decades-long involvement with the Atlanta Opera was one of his most cherished accomplishments.
To paraphrase Marilyn Geewax, when hearing of his passing ... he was a "Renissance Beatnik" and that is a rare beast, indeed.

A Love Letter to Tolll
Dear Tom,
I broke a date to keep our first date. I was all dressed up.. .a new dress and high heels and when I answered the door, there you were, wearing
a dashiki and sandals.
We went to a bluegrass bar in East Dayton. The band members knew you, calling out your name as we entered, and the adventure began.
We combined books, records, art, our friends, your kids, my kid; we became a family of unique personalities and it grew as our children married and grandchildren were born.
We accomplished so much together. My bad knees and Aetna created a 44-year-old marriage with loyalty and love as the theme.
I sang love songs to you, you read to me from the Washington Post
and as we all know, you had something to say about almost everything.
You were my love, my mentor, my advocate, my critic, and ego aside, you on occasion, introduced yourself as Mr. Sandy.
You always let me know that you loved me and that the best part of your day was coming home.
That's all for now,
Sandy
p.s I love you

Ren1en1brances
Thinking about my Dad each and every memory evokes sound and rhythm. It doesn't matter if it is an overture, a full symphony, a mezzo-soprano, a smooth jazz riff, the stomping of a high school marching band, banging his bongos to the sounds of WYSO, the unexpected and long-awaited clarity from a restored 1930's recording of Barnacle Bill the Sailor; it doesn't matter if it's the feet trekking rhythm on a trail taking in the beauty of nature, the read aloud opening words of Howl, his punning and word play, or, even, dare I say... silence! There is no media, method of communication, or insight that could escape his sense of sound and rhythm. Of all the gifts Dad gave me, the most important to me was ...the cadence of life.
-Kris
I don't know if Dad realized it, but he raised me to see the world without bias. When I was around eight or nine my dad and I were at a gas .station waiting for the attendant to come and put gas in the car (a long time ago, obviously). At some point, I began to slouch way down in the seat. Noticing this, dad asked why I was slouching. I responded that I didn't want a kid at the gas station to see me. Dad saw two kids one black and one white, at the soda machine. He asked which kid I was trying to avoid. I didn't say "the black kid," or "the white kid." I said, "the one with the root beer." He said my words really surprised him, and he felt this was a direct result of growing up in Yellow Springs, in an environment of racial neutrality. He said he was pleased and proud at my lack of bias. But a town didn't raise me; my father did.
-Jere
In my eyes, Tom was the best father I could ask for. He was my mentor, my hero and my friend. From the beginning, Tom was always there for me. We had many wonderful, thoughtful and meaningful conversations together. We could talk about everything! I could ask him anything! Many times, usually around the dinner table,Tom shared his insight and opinions on varied subjects and yes, there were plenty of stories. Tom was often the focus of conversation, I felt as though one might need to raise their hand to give input. Being around my parents and their friends, and family get togethers, I always felt like I was part of something interesting and unique. Tom was articulate, liberal minded, a brilliant writer, and well read in all things politics, history, and music. One of his finest qualities was his patience and inherent ability to also listen, absorb and to offer a point of view based on a quiet measured wisdom. His admiration, support and unconditional love towards Chelsea was amazing. Tom loved all of his grandchildren and missed the ones far away. He often praised me for the decisions I made and on how I raised Chelsea. For that, I will always be grateful. A year ago, Tom was able to attend Shelby's and Chelsea's college graduations, and for that I am thankful. Tom, your way with words, your deep understanding of the world we live in and how it works, your love of good food, an appreciation for the arts, a good bourbon, as well as surrounding yourself with family and friends, will live on inside me forever. You are my hardest goodbye.
-Jenni

Welcome

Speakers

Joe Geshwiler Rabbi Sugarman
Sandy Teepen Kristina Garcia Jennifer Fearn

Sharing
If you are so moved, please feel free to share a memory or story of Tom.
*A Toast to Tom*

A Special Thank You
Mike Peters The Ojeda Penn Experience Mark Karelson of Mason Fine Art Affairs to Remember Catering
Van Jernigan Florist

In Loving Memory of
Thomas Henry Teepen