Thomas E. Bitterwolf died suddenly at his office on the University of Idaho campus on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. He was 72.
Tom “Doc” Bitterwolf was born in New Orleans on Jan. 19, 1947, and it was certainly the experience of growing up in a fun-loving city with caring and nurturing parents, Alvin J. and Naomi M. (Hendrix) Bitterwolf, that shaped his “joie de vivre” attitude toward life. Tom attended Centenary College in Shreveport, La., and it was there in the first couple of weeks he met Carrie at a freshman barn dance. That was the start of a 54-year romance that continues to this day. Tom and Carrie were married the day before their college graduation and began a wild ride through life that can only be described as charmed.
About the time Tom was completing graduate school, he received an invitation he couldn’t refuse and elected to join the U.S. Navy. What seemed for a while to be a career-crushing train wreck led to Tom teaching at Nuclear Power School and then the Naval Academy. His military career included United States Navy 1972 to 1995 (23 years) OCS, Newport, R.I.; Naval Nuclear Power School instructor, USNTC Bainbridge, Md., and Orlando, Fla.; U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, Md., Military and Civilian Professor of Chemistry; USN Reserve numerous locations; retired rank: commander.
Tom created a one-man research program at the academy that proved to be sufficiently visible and productive to land him in what has proven to be his dream job as a professor at the University of Idaho. Over his more than 30 years at Idaho, Tom had the honor of teaching thousands of the finest students in the Northwest. His office walls are covered with wedding and birth announcements, graduation photos and scores of pictures of his academic grandchildren.
Tom has had a good many professional, academic and service organization roles. The one he is most proud of is his participation in Boy Scouts, where he has been able to mentor young men and train adult leaders to be thoughtful, caring leaders of boys.
His many roles and honors include Boy Scout Troop Leader (Troop 344, Moscow) and BSA wood badge trainer and course director; Board of Directors Inland Northwest Council; National Court of Honor Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to BSA; Rotary International (Paul Harris Fellow); past president Moscow Rotary Club; University of Idaho Alumni Silver and Gold Award; numerous awards for outstanding teaching; University of Idaho College of Science Dyess Faculty Fellowship; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Chemical Society (more than 50 years); Royal Society of Chemistry; Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society; Phi Kappa Phi; Journal of Organometallic Chemistry editor; Moscow Co-op board of directors; Friendly Neighbors Senior Citizens; Mt. Moriah Quitman Masonic Lodge No. 59 (Slidell, LA; 50-year member); National Sojourners; Latah County Chapter American Association of Retired Persons (board of directors); Idaho Repertory Theater board of advisers; Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity; Methodist Church; and more than 100 refereed professional chemistry papers.
With Carrie as his constant companion, and his two wonderful daughters and their kids, plus scores of four-legged children and even a pet dinosaur to give him joy, Tom lived life to the fullest. The curve ball of cancer at the end only served to spotlight just how rich and rewarding his life had been.
Survivors include Caroline (Carrie) Means Bitterwolf, spouse, Moscow; Heidi Elizabeth Bitterwolf, daughter, Moscow; Jessica Elizabeth Weller, granddaughter, Moscow; Joshua Ray Weller, grandson, Moscow; Katharine Naomi Bitterwolf Hyde (Darren Hyde), daughter, Fort Mill, S.C.; Alexandra Naomi Bitterwolf Hyde, granddaughter, Fort Mill, S.C.; Jasken (Jazz) David Bitterwolf Hyde, grandson, Fort Mill, S.C.
https://cen.acs.org/people/obituaries/Obituary-Thomas-E-Bitterwolf/97/i25