Tom never stopped learning. Although his teaching centered on science, he was also extremely interested in the philosophy of science and its cultural force in our society. He read extensively about religion and carried on a correspondence with C.S. Lewis for many years. In his early years, he played bass in his own swing band, the Tommy Van band, and he listened to good jazz music on his Bose radio every day until his death.

Tom and his wife, Helen, lost their only child in 1962. They set up a scholarship fund to honor their son, Tom, Jr. and when the Ashland County Community Foundation was formed, Tom wanted to be sure that this fund would live on in perpetuity. He transferred the scholarship to the Foundation, knowing that the Foundation would be well managed and that the money he left in his son’s scholarship fund would help college bound high school students long after he died. The Tom VanOsdall Jr. Scholarship has helped many AHS students already and will touch young lives for years to come.

Prepared 2005