September 03, 2005
Passing of TJSL alumnus Tom Gade '70
Thomas Jefferson School of Law is mourning the death of alumnus Tom Gade '70, who passed away recently at the age of 73. The cause of death was multiple myeloma.
Tom was one of our earliest graduates and also a 1994 commencement speaker (along with Professor Hadley Batchelder) during our 25th anniversary year celebration. He truly enjoyed and appreciated the honor of being asked to reminisce about the early days of the law school. Tom attended a number of law school events in the past several years and was especially pleased to have had the opportunity to meet and have his photo taken with Justice Antonin Scalia, when he gave the law school's inaugural Jefferson Lecture in 2001.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s Tom worked as an engineer for Caltrans while attending law school part-time at night. In 1972 he opened his own law firm and then went on to serve as a San Diego City Councilman from 1975 to 1979, including a term as deputy mayor from 1978 to 1979. He declined to run for re-election and chose to return to the practice of law, specializing in construction and business law.
Tom leaves behind his wife and former law partner, Susan Gade, two daughters, and a son.
The family is holding private services, but suggests donations in Tom's memory to San Diego Hospice, 4311 Third Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 or www.sdhospice.org. A former Seabee in the Navy during the Korean War, his ashes will be inurned at Fort Rosecrans.
The faculty and staff of Thomas Jefferson School of Law extend their sincerest condolences to the Gade family.