Thomas M. Curto ’65

Our beloved classmate, Tom “Turtle” Curto, died March 27, 2009, in San Francisco after a mercifully brief battle with esophageal cancer.  

At Princeton he roomed with Lloyd Friend, Jim Luke, and John Pieper sophomore and junior years. Senior year he roomed in Blair Tower with Griff Sexton, Jake Jacobson, and Rob Norton. Tom majored in basic engineering and was a proud member of Tiger Inn and the 21 Club.

After graduation, Tom went west for an M.B.A. at Stanford Graduate School of Business. He entered the investment business and never left the San Francisco Bay area. His first marriage ended in divorce, but a few years later he was fortunate to find a soulmate in the irrepressible Betsy Ulsh. Betsy died of breast cancer in 1990, but not without having given Tom a final priceless gift, their beautiful daughter, Jennifer. Tom raised Jennifer with love, wisdom, and infinite care. When Jenny went off to college, Tom found the last great treasure of his life when he met and married Tomoko Tamura.

Tom was a loving husband and father, a gentleman, and a true and loyal friend. The class extends deepest sympathy to Tomoko; Tom’s mother, Mary Lou; sister Chris; and his children, Susannah, Mike, and Jennifer.