In MEMORIAM
Clarence “Tom” N. Tinker - CPG-3396 Cedar Park, Texas
March 23, 1933 - March 11, 2020 Member Since 1976
Clarence Norman “Tom” Tinker was born in Lansing, Michigan on March 23, 1933, and passed away peacefully on March 11, 2020 in Austin, Texas.
Tom graduated from East Lansing High School in 1950 and received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in geology from the University of Michigan in 1954 and 1955. He married Janice Wheeler Tinker (East Lansing High School ‘50, Michigan State ‘54) on July 2, 1955. They had known each other since the 7th grade and became reacquainted after col- lege. They honeymooned on “Wheeler’s Island” on Arbutus Lake in northern Michigan. He and Jan moved a dozen times with Shell Oil Company between Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Colorado, and Oklahoma before settling in Houston in 1970. In Shell he ascended to the rank of Senior Technical Advisor, where he worked his entire career of 39 years.
Tom shared his passion for geology not only with colleagues, but his family as well. His sons Scott W. Tinker, Ph.D., Mark A. Tinker, Ph.D., and grandson Nathan Scott Tinker have fol- lowed in his footsteps. Tom’s passion for geology also spread to the many professional organizations in which he actively participated including the AIPG. He was a long-time, loyal member of the institute for 44 years and proudly displayed his AIPG certificates in his study along with recognition from other societies including honors from the Michigan association of Oil and Gas Association and a Certificate of Merit from Michigan’s former Governor John Engler. He was honored by the governor for his contributions in the 1990s to Cooperative Bioremediation Research, a venture to study bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater.
Tom was passionate about building integrated teams and mentored many young scientists and engineers. In 2015, at the annual convention of Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, along with his son, Scott, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, and grandson Nathan, then pursuing a master’s degree in geology at the University of Texas at Austin, Tinker headed a panel on “Geo-Generations: 60 Years in the ‘Patch’ and Counting” and discussed the industry and technology trends that have impacted geoscientists over generations in the oil and gas industry.
Three generation family of geologists: (from left) Tom Tinker, Scott Tinker, Ph.D., and Nathan Tinker at the 2015 Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies.
Tom was also third-generation graduate of the University of Michigan. He served the university as a member of the Department of Geological Sciences Alumni Advisory Board for many years and was a committed financial donor. Tom loved watching sports, and whenever the University of Michigan football or basketball teams played he could be found in his large recliner, TV remote in hand, wearing his U of M hat and sweater, with “Hail to the Victors” at the ready!
In 2014, Tom was honored by his alma mater with a distin- guished alumni award. In his acceptance of this honor, Tom talked about how lucky he considered himself to be for finding geology, enjoying a long career, and for having a wonderful family. Tom shared the following thoughts for success that he learned during his odyssey:
Tom’s proudly displayed geological society honors and awards.
• Be very careful how you communicate and use lan- guage.
• Be involved in your professional societies (“each of you is destined to be ... the Leaders and Best”).
• Stay involved with your University - “Share your wealth and never forget it all started here!”1
1. Geoscience News For Alumni and Friends of Earth and Environmental Sciences: University of Michigan, Spring 2015, https://lsa.
umich.edu/content/dam/earth-assets/earthdocuments/Geoscience_News_Spring2015.pdf..
48 TPG •
Jul.Aug.Sep 2020
www.aipg.org
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