Thomas Kurtz

We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Gunderson Funeral Home - Middleton

Rest in Peace, Professor Kurtz. Tom was a good friend of my father's, Krishna Athreya, and I remember the wonderful speech he gave at his birthday conference. They were friends going back to their graduate school days at Stanford, and my dad always valued Tom's friendship so much. Tom was a wonderful mathematician, a very kind and generous man, and will be missed greatly.

Tom reminded me of my own father, in all the best ways. Tom was an exceptional person - kind, generous, smart, caring, well-traveled and good-natured, with an unquenchable smile and wonderful sense of humor. His comments in all our various church groups, where we discussed the pressing issues of our day - Coffee & Conversation, Tuesday Night Fellowship, and Adult Sunday School - were always insightful and spot-on. Tom was an inspiration and a friend. We will all miss him. One favorite memory was the day he accepted my suggestion that we visit over dinner at Hubbard Avenue Diner when the rest of my family was out of town and I was feeling lonely. And I remember when I was making an appeal for assistance for children in the Philippines, and he immediately contributed a very generous check to help people he'd never meet. The last time I saw him, just a few days before he passed, he shrugged off my inquiry about his health with his normal good-humor, and spent most of our conversation telling me how much he appreciated what I did for the environment. It seemed like he was always thinking about everyone else. May our lives be as well-lived as his. With gratitude, Carol Phelps

I met Tom a few years after he “retired.” He was still a constant presence in the department, regularly coming to the office, attending every seminar, and joining us for dinners. I feel truly fortunate to have gotten to know him through these interactions and a research collaboration that grew out of them. Professionally, Tom was undoubtedly one of the greats of his generation. What always impressed me most about Tom, however, was his character: he was an equally exceptional human being and profoundly decent in countless ways, both big and small. Tom in the past described others with a similar generosity of spirit as “one of the good guys.” Without any doubt, Tom was that. Those of us who knew him are richer for it. My heartfelt condolences to his family on his loss.

Tom had an extraordinary ability to make those around them feel valued and important, often putting others before himself with a smile that could light up any room. His generosity was not just in the gifts he gave, but in the time, attention, and care he offered freely. He taught us that true happiness comes not from what we have, but from what we give to others. Whether through a helping hand, a kind word, or simply sharing a laugh, Tom created moments of joy that will live on in our hearts always.