Thomas Margrave

Thomas Margrave, 76, of David City died Thursday, July 16, 2015 at his residence.

Thomas E. Margrave, Jr., son of Lt. Colonel Thomas and Delores Margrave, was born on November 15, 1938 in Langley Field, Va. Known as Tommy in his early years, he gravitated to “Tom” in later life. Tom passed away in David City on July 16, 2015 at age 76.

Tom’s early childhood was spent in numerous locations during World War II in typical military family fashion. After the war, his family settled in Omaha where Tom attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Creighton Preparatory School, where he graduated in 1956 right at the top of his class. During his years at Prep, Tom participated in many activities, including Masquers, dance band, debate, school newspaper and year book.

After graduating from Prep in 1956, Tom received a presidential appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He spent two years at the Academy before deciding to pursue a career in science. Tom received his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics in 1961 from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1963 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York and a Ph.D. in Astronomy in 1967 from the University of Arizona at Tucson, Ariz. During one summer break while still on the east coast, Tom attended a Russian immersion program at Middlebury College in Vermont. He developed deep comprehension skills that he quickly paired with his science background. He became a freelance translator of Russian scientific journals.

After completing his Master’s degree, Tom worked briefly at NASA in Houston, Texas before relocating to Tucson for his Ph.D studies. While in Tucson, Tom spent many late nights at the Kitt Peak National Observatory. Tom married Tucson native Patricia Gaede. They started their family there. Post Ph.D., the family moved to the east coast where Tom taught at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. from 1967-1969.

In 1969, Tom moved the family west and became the inaugural Astronomy professor at the University of Montana in Missoula. Early in his career at UM, Tom secured funding grants to build an observatory in Missoula and the Blue Mountain Observatory is his legacy. He remained an engaging and popular professor at the University until 1985 when he accepted a position with a federal agency in the Washington, D.C. area.

Throughout his career, Tom’s love for the midwest never waned so when he retired in 2000, he reclaimed his roots, moved back to Nebraska and chose David City as his home. There he enjoyed the easy-going pace of life, the proximity to his many relatives and his cherished childhood memories in the Platte Valley area.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents Thomas E. Margrave, Sr. of Gordon, and Julia DeLores Adamy Margrave of Bellwood, daughter, Celinda Rude and former spouse, Patricia Gaede Margrave. He is survived by his children, Stephen Margrave, Cecilia Margrave and David (Keiko) Margrave; two grandsons, Gerald (Jerry) Margrave and Jesse Margrave; brother Michael W. Margrave; and sister Janet K. Margrave, both of Scottsdale, Arizona. A great lover of cats, birds, and other garden visitors , a longtime fan of the Glenn Miller Band, a highly accomplished pianist, clarinetist and saxophone player, Tom’s family will miss him tremendously. His laugh, his smile, his sweet demeanor, his vast knowledge of an incredible range of topics, his keen memory of past events, and his quick wit will always be with them