• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
MENUMENU
  • Visitor Card
  • Calendar
  • Latest News
  • Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors

OUUC

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

MENUMENU
  • About
    • Visitors
      • Directions, Parking, Transit
      • What to Expect When You Visit
      • Accessibility
      • Safety
      • Visitor Card
    • Who We Are
      • Mission
      • Covenants
      • Org Chart
      • Staff
      • Board
      • Bylaws and Policies
      • Leadership Development Committee
      • OUUC History
      • About Unitarian Universalism
    • Membership
      • Membership – Why & How
      • Membership Classes
      • Newcomers
    • Facilities
      • Use Our Space
      • How We Care for Our Space 🏗️
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Upcoming Services
    • Worship – Why & How
    • Recent Services
    • Music Ministry
    • Spiritual Practices
      • Spiritual Practices – Why & How
      • Spiritual Practice Groups
    • Holidays & Holy Days
    • Offering
      • Offering – Why & How
      • Share the Plate
    • Rites of Passage
      • Rites of Passage – Why & How
      • Child Dedications
      • Weddings 🏗️
      • Celebrations of Life
  • Learn
    • Children’s Programs
    • Youth
    • Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education Classes
    • Adult Faith Development
    • Volunteer Training
    • Growing as a Leader
    • Learning about UUism
    • Learning About Justice
      • Faith in Action Forums
  • Act
    • Current Justice Efforts
    • Being of Service
      • Simple Volunteer Opportunities
      • Teams Within OUUC
      • Teams to Serve Wider Community
    • Faith in Action Alert List Sign-up
    • Connecting to Advocacy
  • Connect
    • News & Communications
      • Sign Up for Mailing List
      • Weekly Update
      • The Spark
      • Latest News
    • Community Dinners
    • Congregational Care
      • Pastoral Care
      • Caring Friends
      • Support Groups
      • Personal Care And Support Record
      • Healthy Congregations Team
      • Safer Congregation Response Team
    • Social/Affinity Groups
    • Young Adults & Families
    • Volunteering
    • Partner Church in Kissolymos, Romania
    • Contact Us
  • Give
    • Ways to Give
    • Stewardship
    • Capital Campaign
    • Legacy Giving
    • Fundraising Events
      • Auction
      • Book Sale
    • Share the Plate
    • Donating Stuff
    • eSale Giving
    • OUUC Merch
  • Visitor Card
  • Calendar
  • Latest News
  • Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors
Home / OUUC Community / Remembering Tom Joldersma

Sep 16 2020

Remembering Tom Joldersma

Tom Joldersma died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on August 11, 2020. He endured, with grace, Parkinson’s Disease for 14 years and Lewy Body Dementia for five. Tom was born on June 10, 1940, the second of six children born to Gary and Agnes (Zwier) Joldersma in Holland, Michigan.

Graduating from Calvin College in 1962, Tom went on to earn a Ph.D. in Elementary Particle Physics from Ohio University in 1965. He did research at Brookhaven National Laboratory and postdoctoral work at the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich, during which Tom used one of the first particle accelerators at CERN in Geneva. He hoped that by studying and doing research on the smallest particles he would learn about the nature of reality. Tom worked during the late 1960s and early 70’s with the War Resisters League to help end the Vietnam war while teaching astronomy and ethics in science at San Francisco State University.

During this time he was also building a geodesic dome in Northern California where he met and married his wife Samara Moreland.  Attempting to heal from the divisiveness of the Vietnam war, they became landed immigrants in Canada with their two young sons, Paul and Jonah, and went on a homesteading adventure off the coast of North Vancouver Island. In 1977 they returned to the USA where Damien was born that year and Benjamin born in 1978.

Tom worked in the Aerospace industry for over 40 years designing rocket navigation systems and high tech gear for satellites and the Space Shuttle. He worked on several NATO assignments which allowed him to fulfill one of his dreams: bringing his family to Europe to live in Belgium for five years and England also for five years. He designed and built, with his family, two more family homes, on Vashon Island and later, on Steamboat Peninsula near Olympia, WA.

Tom was a sincere spiritual seeker, a lifelong meditator. He was a cherished husband and father who believed as much in having fun as in education. He was a father who dressed up as a magician for parties and games he organized, as well as treasure hunts. He was a kind and gentle person who will be missed and held forever in the hearts of his wife Samara, his sons Paul (m. Jenny Atuesta-Rodriguez), Jonah, Damien (m. Rie Ando), Benjamin (m. Nicole Bradford), and grandchildren Jackson, Kate, Vivienne, Aiden, Desmond, Melek, and Bernadette.

A memorial service will be held for Tom at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation when we can safely gather again.  Internment of Tom’s ashes will be in their Columbarium following the memorial service.

Please send memorial contributions to the Brighter Days Adult Day Program at the Lacey Senior Center or the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation.  Heartfelt appreciation to Assured Hospice for the loving care received.

Please leave memories at www.FuneralAlternatives.org

Written by Congregational Administrator · Categorized: OUUC Community · Tagged: celebration of life, memorial service

Footer

OUUC Logo Olympia
Unitarian
Universalist
Congregation

Contact Us:

2306 East End St. NW
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 634-2005
Send Us a Message


Office Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday, 12-4 pm
Sunday during services

Follow Us:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
OUUC Connect/Realm Login

Copyright © 2025 · Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation · Log in