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Tom Henderson passed away quietly with family at his side on Valentines Day, February 14th, 2005. A memorial service was held on March 5th at First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto. The word indefatigable is one of the best a person could come up with to describe Tom, along with words like honest, straightforward, bold, loving, brilliant, caring, insightful, and determined. Tom's personal, corporate and volunteer life would take pages to summarize, but a few of the high points were his wonderful lifetime marriage to Mitzi Henderson and the amazing children and grandchildren in their lives. Tom retired in 1994 as the CEO and Chairman of the Guy F. Atkinson Company after spending 35 years at that company. Among Tom's many civic and religious leadership roles, he served as the interim president of the Pacific School of Religion, Chairman of the National Board of the YMCA of the USA, as a local and national leader within PFLAG (Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), and as an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Tom was remembered in the San Francisco Chronicle on February 21st. Click here to read that obituary. Tom was remembered in the San Jose Mercury News on March 1st. To read that obituary, click here. If you would like to share a memory of Tom, or a message to Mitzi and the family, please click here to send a message and your words will be added to this page.
From Alec Henderson: Dear Friends, Tom Henderson died peacefully yesterday evening. True to his
spirit, he fought long and hard to recover. In the end, however,
his heart had simply become too weak to go on. Tom was a loving husband, father and brother. When he had his major heart attack 18 years ago, he was told it was unlikely he would live more than another year. We give thanks to God and rejoice, as did he, in his rich and abundant life, most especially in all that we have been able to share together in that intervening time. We hope that those who can will join us on the afternoon of March 5 at First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto to more fully and appropriately celebrate his life and enduring spirit. In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to make a contribution of time or money to one of Tom's favorite organizations. We'll forward more information on the memorial service and how to contact those organizations shortly. In faith and love, Mitzi Henderson; with Alec Henderson, Jamie Henderson, Elizabeth Esty and Celia Jaffe - Loralie Junda and Judy Hemmer From Craig Wiesner and Derrick Kikuchi:
As we walked through the park this morning, we noticed an incredibly beautiful glowing light, illuminating the sky behind, around and through the giant clouds. Heaven's been around for a long time and one can only imagine that Tom took one look, realized how long it had been since anyone had done any real work on the place, organized a capital campaign, and the contractors were already at work setting up floodlights so they could work 24/7 to get things in shape. Tom and Mitzi have been special friends, family actually, since we first met. They've encouraged us to do great things through a combination of their faith in us and the knowledge that if we were to head down the wrong track, Tom and Mitzi would make sure we knew where we had gone astray. If one wanted to see an example of love in all its glory, one need only have looked at Tom and Mitzi at their kitchen table. We will miss Tom more than words can say. We're grateful to have had 15 years of friendship with him, and we will keep Mitzi and the entire Henderson family in our prayers. Tom lives on in the sparkling eyes, loving hands, and warm hearts of the entire Henderson clan. Craig Wiesner and Derrick Kikuchi From JoAnn Heydron: I loved Tom. I felt his faith and conviction so strongly, his
deep generosity and fundamental open-mindedness. I always looked
around for him in church because I found his presence so health
giving, even as he was struggling with his own health. I felt
as if I had virtually nothing in common with him, and From Pam Beyers: Dear Palo Alto friends, You knew Tom in so many roles, while I mostly saw him at various
national I want to share a recent memory that will remain very vivid for the six hundred people or so who attended the 2004 Covenant Conference in Chicago last November. Susan Andrews preached on Song of Songs, and wanted a couple to read extensive excerpts from chapter 2. Tom and Mitzi¹s reading was witty, faithful and very moving. I will never be able to read those words again without remembering Mitzi, glancing lovingly, even coquettishly, at Tom, and Tom, resplendent in a red linen jacket, leaning protectively toward her, as they brought to life these words of delight and longing and joy in the beloved. The strength Tom and Mitzi have drawn from each other, the joy they have given to each other, have enabled all the significant and lasting work they have done separately and together for the Presbyterian church, at least two seminaries, and the full inclusion and welcome of GLBT people in church and world. Tom will be very greatly missed! Pam Byers From Cindy Chin-Lee: We will miss Tom very much. In my mind he will always be the tall, handsome man who led so many church activities and campaigns. We appreciate his leadership and volunteerism. But my favorite memory of him is when he dressed as a farmer at the last church Halloween party and Mitzi was a chef. He had a big smile and a friendly nod and chatted with us about his work at the theological college. With prayers for the Henderson family, Remembering Tom Henderson from National More Light Presbyterians
Dr. Betty L. Sullivan wrote: I did so much love watching and listening to Tom with Mitzi at national events of the Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) organization. I loved seeing Tom walk with Mitzi and all of us in Pride Parades and the Redwood City Family Day Parade. Coming into PFLAG as a new Board member, I was so moved by Tom's warmth and love, his steady hand and his unwavering leadership. He was a remarkable man, and in my view, one who so well exemplified the best a father could be in standing up for his gay son and his extended family in the LGBT community. Thank you, Tom! With love to Mitzi and Family, Dr. Betty L. Sullivan From Rev. Terri Echelbarger: A pebble tossed into a pond has very little knowledge of how the waves created by its action will effect things. Even more so in the case of Tom, who lived with intention as an example of Love in the world. As a former YMCA employee (still volunteer), Pacific School of Religion graduate, now Lesbian minister - well, the life that Tom led was an encouragement to me over and over again. I saw the effect of his work everywhere I looked, and it did make a difference. My prayers of comfort go to Mitzi, and so many others, who will miss his presence, and continue his work. Tom, the waves of love you created will continue to have an effect, indeed, you did change the world with your Love. Rev. Terri Echelbarger
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