Thomas "Tom" Sear Clark

Thomas S. Clark, of Santa Cruz, age 60, passed away Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at his home, due to anaplastic thyroid cancer. Originally from Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, Tom moved to Santa Cruz in 1989 in a job transfer that was initially temporary. He quickly realized he had found a place he wanted to call home, and made the transfer permanent. A very "early adopter" of technology, Tom found the computer lab as a teenager in the 1970s, and graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Computer Science in 1981. He then worked for AT&T Bell Laboratories, and completed a Master's degree in Computer Science at the University of Illinois before going to work for Data General and Stratus Computer. Since 2004, he has been employed by Infoblox, with his most recent position being Distinguished Architect and Technical Director of Engineering. Outside of work, the true passions of Tom's life were traveling the world, listening to live music, enjoying good beer, connecting with friends and family--and when lucky, doing them all at the same time. Tom lived life fully, making plans and seizing opportunities to do the things he loved to do, often with friends or family, or with new friends met along the way. Tom is survived by his wife, Kaoru Takahashi; sisters Sherren Clark and Cathy (Ted) Clark Davis; niece Cady Davis; stepmother Barbara Clark; aunt and uncle Ellen and Bill Fiero; and many cousins and close friends. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 pm at Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz, CA. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Tom may be made to the Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org) or The Wilderness Society (www.wilderness.org).