I wouldn't have my B.A. in Geophysics if Tom hadn't taken the trip down from LBL twice a week just for me. Some may remember that 1987 was a low point for the department. I was one of only two students in their senior year and there were only 5 or 6 total in the program at that time. Seismology was my last remaining required class. I was the only one enrolled so I wasn't sure if the class would be held. But Tom was slated to teach seismology that semester and since I needed the class to graduate, Tom didn't cancel it. Tom lectured to me one-on-one like the room was packed! It was intense and it was personal. I felt like he took unusual pride in teaching me despite (or perhaps because of) the nearly empty classroom. If even one person wanted to learn his craft and valued the experience as I did, then that was worth the effort in his mind.

And each time after class he'd crack a smile and say the same thing as he left, "...gotta get back to my earthquakes!"