Thomas Carncross

died of respiratory failure at Providence Medical Center on 12/15/2009, with his family by his side. He was 56.Born on 7/30/1953 in Princeton, NJ, to William Carncross and Eunice Amundsen, Tom showed an early interest in math, science, building, and inventing. While still in grade school, Tom built a functioning air conditioner out of a fan and an air conditioning box containing ice and water. During Tom's early years the family lived mainly in the southern US�in El Paso, Texas, Alexander City, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia. Tom's parents, who met at Princeton Choir College, were choir directors and worked in the music ministries of area churches. As a toddler, Tom sat under the piano while his mother gave lessons and learned a lifelong love of music.The family moved to Kirkland, WA and Tom entered high school at Lake Washington High School. Tom attended St. John Episcopal Church in Kirkland. He was confirmed when he was 15 and served in the church as an acolyte.After Tom's parents divorced, he moved briefly to Seattle where he lived with his mother, his sisters, and his brother. At that time he focused on music and attended rock concerts whenever he could. He saw some of the greatest rock musicians of the time perform live in Seattle area concerts in those days. In 1969 he attended the legendary Gold Creek Rock Festival with 50,000 fans in the Gold Creek Park in Woodinville. The rock festival lasted three days and included groups such as Santana, the Byrds, Chicago Transit Authority, Bo Diddley, the Doors, It's a Beautiful Day, Led Zepplin, Spirit, Ten Years After, Ike and Tina Turner, Vanilla Fudge, and the Youngbloods. Tom's mother remarried, and Tom and his family moved to Kennewick, WA where their stepfather, O.W. Priebe, worked for Bechtel. Tom continued his involvement with music, often writing songs, and playing the guitar in a local band.After Kennewick, Tom lost his focus on school. He didn't graduate from high school. He moved back to Seattle where he worked odd jobs and ended up working nights as a security guard in a city building in downtown Seattle. There he met two nocturnal whiz kids who loved computers and were working nights on a programming project. Tom made friends with the pair and played chess with one of them when things got slow and they were waiting for their programs. Tom's friendship with the young chess-player turned into a life changing relationship. They had many discussions about philosophy, mathematics, science, and the future. Tom didn't win many chess games but Tom was inspired by his chess-playing friend and began reading textbooks: mathematics, chemistry, physics. Tom went back to school and worked hard for the credits to apply to college.Tom graduated from UC Berkeley with majors in Applied Mathematics and Physics. After graduation, with a wife and young son, Tom started his career as an optical engineer at Optical Coating Lab, Inc. (OCLI) in California. After his second son was born, Tom moved his family back to the northwest where he worked at Alcon in Bellevue, WA. Tom's status as an inventor was established while working at Alcon. He was named in patents related to improvements in bifocal intraocular lenses in 1992 and 1993.In 1987 Tom married Karen Crossan Wiborg at St. John Episcopal Church, Kirkland�where he was confirmed 22 years earlier. Karen was his best friend and the love of his life. They worked hard together to raise their blended family of five children in Kirkland. During these years, Tom enjoyed camping, cooking, Sudoku, chess, and boats, and made every effort to pass his interests on to his children.Tom knew he possessed the gift of a mathematical and scientific mind, and sought to encourage young people who were studying math, chemistry, and physics in high school or college by offering to tutor them at any time. Tom attempted to tutor his own kids, but had much more success tutoring their friends and other young people in the neighborhood. The tutoring Tom did was a great source of satisfaction to him.After Tom's father died in 2003, Tom and Karen moved into his father's house on Bainbridge Island. Life was quieter there. Tom enjoyed living on Bainbridge Island and was making plans to accomplish his lifelong dream of restoring and building boats.Above all, Tom loved spending time with his family. He was so proud of his two daughters and three sons. He was happiest at family gatherings, especially when everyone played games like Scrabble, Pictionary, and cards. And if there were an opportunity for him to cook a big pot of curry or spaghetti with anchovies�then life was perfect!Tom is survived by his wife of 22 years, Karen, daughters Narnia Wiborg and Allegra Wiborg of Seattle, sons Geo Carncross (Tracy) of Easton, MD, John Carncross (Mahrya) of Seattle, and Gabriel Wiborg (Porntip) of Kenmore, WA, and granddaughter Melissa Rose Carncross of Easton, MD. He is also survived by sisters Chris Corazon McKenzie of Stanwood, Julia Carncross Roscher of Mt. Vernon, and brother Eric Carncross of Everett, WA. He leaves first wife Lori Carncross of Texas. Tom also leaves a beloved extended family including numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.A memorial service will be held at St. Barnabus Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island, on Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Tom's name to a charity of your choice, or to the interium (memory garden) at St Barnabus Episcopal Church.(Directions).