Thomas A. Kerr Jr. ’59

The Rev. Canon Thomas Kerr died Dec. 19, 2018, at home in Wilmington, Del., surrounded by his family. He had endured a 13-year battle with multiple myeloma. He was laid to rest at Immanuel Episcopal church in a service officiated by the bishop of Delaware, with several classmates in attendance.

From Princeton Day and Groton, Tom came to Princeton as a legacy; his father was in the Class of 1934. He majored in history, played intramural hockey, was active with the Student Christian Association and president of the St. Paul’s Society, and ate at Tower. Following graduation from General Theological Seminary in New York in 1962, he began a life of religious service as an Episcopal priest. He served the New Jersey diocese for 23 years before moving to Wilmington to serve as canon pastor at St. John’s Cathedral for 10 years, then rector of Immanuel Church for a further seven years, then to the New Jersey diocese until 2006, when he retired following his diagnosis.

Married to Janet Spence (to whom he proposed on their first date) in 1965, the Kerrs raised two sons and a daughter. Spoken of as a man of infinite patience, enormous compassion, and endless tolerance, Tom served those in need, comforting countless people through their darkest times.

Tom is survived by his wife, his children including Timothy ’01, and two brothers. We have sent condolences.