Thomas Edward Cleary

Thomas Edward Cleary, age 75, of Madison, died unexpectedly at home on Monday evening, October 19, 2009.   He was born on July 20, 1934 in Milwaukee, son of the late Peter and Myrine (Borchers) Cleary.              Tom attended school in Milwaukee, and was a graduate in broadcast communications of Denison University in Granville, Ohio.  After college he worked at radio stations in Ohio and Milwaukee, and also at the Ken Cook Company in Milwaukee.  In 1968, he became the Personnel Director at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union in Madison, until his retirement in 1997. Tom was an excellent musician with a passion for classical music. He sang  a fine bass in local church choirs and community choruses.   In Milwaukee, he performed with the Bel Canto Chorus and the Milwaukee Choristers, the UW Choral Union, the Madison Savoyards, the Madison Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Philharmonic Chorus of Madison.  Tom was an ardent supporter and participant in the Philharmonic Chorus Holiday Tudor Dinners at the Great Hall of the Memorial Union, including as Master of Ceremonies as recently as 2002. Tom was a lifelong enthusiast of Wisconsin sports and a steadfast fan of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers.   He was also a member of the West Side Rotary Club, and served as president in 95-96.   In spite of long term medical issues, and physical disabilities, Tom always had a positive attitude, an unfailing sense of humor and a fair, kind and generous spirit.   He was truly a good man.   His tall presence and sonorous voice will be deeply missed by everyone.   Tom is survived by his beloved partner Donna Fullerton; his daughter Beth Cleary of Santa Barbara, California; son Michael (Amy Waggoner) Cleary, and two sweet granddaughters, Maggie and Riley, of Madison; sister Margaret Mortell and sister-in-law Joan Cleary, both of Oxford Mississippi; his former wife Sue Shorney Cleary Koch, of Grafton, Wisconsin; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Robert and Peter Cleary, Peter's wife, Marion; and brother-in-law Patrick Mortell. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison, Michael Schuler officiating.             Memorials may be made to the Denison University Annual Fund, P.O. Box 716, Granville, Ohio, 43023; the UW Foundation Ted Crabb Fund, P.O. Box 78807, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53278; or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, Virginia, 22312.