[Dixielandjazz] Tom Stillings RIP

[Kaye Wade]

Thomas J. Stillings   Age 71 passed away due to cancer at home on  
September 15, 2007.  The Tom was born on October 2, 1935, in  
Columbus, OH. He spent his childhood in Milford Center, OH, and was a  
graduate of Union Local High School, Milford Center. He attended  
Otterbein College, Westerville, OH, and was graduated from Ohio State  
University, Columbus OH., where he earned both Bachelor and Master’s  
Degrees in Mathematics.  In 1960 he was commissioned into the US  
Navy. He attended Officer Candidate School and the US Naval  
Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, where he majored in Operations  
Analysis. He served in the Navy for ten years assigned to the  
aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Forrestal. He received a Bronze Metal for  
his leadership in fighting the deadly fire at sea which occurred  
aboard the Forrestal in 1967; he was honorably discharged as Lt.  
Commander.
In 1970 Tom began his twenty-year career as a mathematician/engineer  
in the aerospace field; he worked for NASA as well as for several  
Southern Californian aerospace companies.  He retired from Lockeed- 
Martin, where he had been employed in the “Skunk Works” and was a  
member of the SR71 Blackbird Project team. While working in aerospace  
he concurrently taught mathematics, electronics and laser technology  
at Pasadena Community College. After moving to Temecula in 1991, he  
continued his academic activities, teaching mathematics at Mt. San  
Jacinto, Riverside, and Palomar community colleges.  A man of many  
interests, Tom enjoyed flying ultra-lights and other small planes; he  
landscaped and managed the four acres surrounding his and his wife’s  
home in the Temecula Wine Country; he held an “Extra class” amateur  
radio license (KG6T) and was a member of the Golden Triangle Amateur  
Radio Club; and he was an active participant in community affairs  
assuming leadership positions in the Fire Safe Counsel and the  
Diamond Valley Arts Counsel.
Tom’s passion was his avocation:  Dixieland Music.  He played both  
tenor banjo and piano with a recognizably, distinctive style.  He  
founded the Just-For-Fun Jazz Band, and co-founded the Coyote Hills  
Jazz Band, the Big Easy Jazz Band and the Hotsy Totsy Boys.  Over the  
years he supported jazz clubs in Simi Valley, San Fernando Valley,  
Gardena, Bell Gardens, Manhattan Beach, Santa Ana, and West Covina  
and was the past-president (4 yrs) of the Lakeside Jazz Club in Lake  
Elsinore. He had been a regular member of the Good Time Jazz Band,  
the New Bull Moose Party Band, and the Tailgate Ramblers in the Los  
Angeles area.  Until recently, he played regularly with the San Diego  
Banjo Band, the Second Avenue Dixieland Band, and the Crazy Rhythm  
Jazz Band.   He also entertained in many local venues in piano-vocal  
duos with Nannette as the Sentimental Journey and with Jan  
Southerland as Two’s Company.
Tom is survived by his wife, Susan, his daughter, Sandra Branuelas  
(Chris), his son, William Brett, and their mother, Gail, and by his  
grandchildren, Christopher Branuelas, Victoria Branuelas, and Amber  
Stillings.

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Kaye Wade
Stuntwoman-Actress, Vocalist & Bandleader
( also  *Kaye Wade's Riverboat Ramblers, *The Tinsel Town Ten Minus - 3,
*Jazz Holiday Band @ Sardo's, Burbank, Ca.
Former San Fernando Valley Banjo Bnd Now-*Jazz'n Banjos,
and  a *Reflexologist)
PO Box 1068 Studio City  CA. 91614-1068
http://www.KayeWade.com