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I found out today that Tom passed away on the evening of Nov 22nd.  He had recently been diagnosed with cancer and was hoping to make it to his 70th birthday on Dec 18th but, sadly, it didn't happen.  He was cremated and, in leu of flowers, his wife would like donations made in his name to the Portage County Humane Society.   Good bye Tom, and thanks.  I'll never forget you. 

M. Scott Taulman

     Mary,  I just read your post and it made me laugh out loud, and I really needed to laugh out loud  right now.  I'm opening a show in 7 hours and the director just emailed me and wants to change all kinds of stuff and... anyway, THANKS.

      It took me five years (okay...five and a half) to get my degree and Tom always made fun of the fact that it seemed like I had been there forever.  He once put a cartoon on the callboard that had a picture of a student talking to a faculty member in the faculty members office.  He crossed out the caption and wrote a bubble coming out of the faculty members mouth that said "No Scott,  we don't grant students tenure."  He used to tell the underclassman that I had been there longer than he had and several believed him.  At the conclusion of my senior recital I was standing on Jenkins stage thanking my parents and teachers when Tom entered stage left, said  "Excuse me Scott, there is on one piece of business still left unfinished before you leave."  He took center stage, unrolled a scroll and read a declaration granting me tenure for my "fourteen years" of service to the department.  I accepted it, we both took a bow and he gave me a big hug.  The last sound I heard when I walked off Jenkins stage for the final time was the place going nuts as we exited with our arms over each others shoulders.  It's one of my most cherished college memories.  

Yeah Sam what does MSCSMSC stand for? 

http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071124/SPJ010301/711240394/1663

Thomas F. Nevins

Thomas F. Nevins, 69, of 5493 Sorenson St., Stevens Point, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, at St. Michael's Hospital while under the care of Ministry Hospice and his wife.

Thomas was born Dec. 19, 1937, in Chicago, to the late John and Angeline (Fabiszak) Nevins.

Tom grew up in the Hoyne Avenue area of Chicago and graduated from Tuley High School. He attended Quincy University in Illinois and Villanova University in Pennsylvania, receiving a master's degree in Theater Arts. Following his education he taught at Villanova University, Vanguard Schools in Pennsylvania and Quincy University. In 1979 he began teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in their Theater and Dancing Department, retiring Dec. 20, 2002.

In the early 1980s, he scripted and staged the play "Poverello" at UWSP and in 1983 his production of "The Crucible" was chosen for regional competition by the American College Theatre Association. He directed more than 100 plays during his career. He was instrumental in developing an improvisation class at UWSP, and as a professional instructor in fencing, taught combat techniques to his students. He specialized in teaching speech dialects through a course that he developed at UWSP.

Tom directed the Madrigal Dinner annually at UWSP and had previously directed that dinner at Quincy University. He recently had a chair marked in the newly renovated Quincy University Theater with a plaque, recognizing his involvement with their theater program he helped to bring to life there.

Since retirement he had been teaching at UWSP in their Learning is Forever (LIFE) program, teaching mime and improvisation.

He married Jane Redner August 8, 1981, in Stevens Point.

Tom enjoyed writing and woodworking through designing tree faces and making walking sticks. He also enjoyed walking, riding bicycle, making cruciforms out of wire, and being with family and friends. Besides traveling many places, a trip with his wife to Ireland to celebrate his 50th birthday was a trip that stood above the others.

Survivors include his wife, Jane; three children, Ian (Jennifer) of Aurora, Ill., Tim (Kelly), Providence, R.I., and Marla (Jeff) Gilliland, Quincy, Ill.; grandchildren, Olivia and Mira Nevins, Jared and Jordan Gilliland; a brother, Richard (Bev) Nevins of Klamath Falls, Ore.; and a sister, Mariann Nevins of St. Helena Island, S.C.

Tom will be cremated; no services are planned at this time. A memorial is established in his name in lieu of flowers for the Humane Society of Portage County. Boston Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

What a great loss!  Remember his story about the tying an actors shoes together during a performance of Murder in the Cathedral.  I pulled that on a student of mine before a big dance number for Oklahoma!  I crept on stage behind scenery to do it.

I also found a red clown nose and used it classes.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  Tom Nevins' legacy now runs through the memories of fifteen years of high school students from three cities.

I hope to continue to do so for a long, long time.  Tom you will be missed, but, as long as I teach, you will not be forgotten.

What sad news this is. 

I remember Tom fondly for many reasons.  Chief among them was his simple but keen insight that acting - for all the thought, analysis, and intense self-examination we might put into it - was really just playing make believe (Tom appeared to hold this belief rather deeply, because it didn't matter if we were in class to study dialects, theatre history, stage combat or directing, sooner or later we found ourselves playing that game where we chased and slapped each other with a rolled up newspaper).  Tom's Prime Directive - relax, go with it, have fun - remains good advice both within and beyond the world of theatre.

Tom was generous, fiercely loyal, quick-witted of course, and without pretense.  He trusted and cared about students, and he always had our backs.  Tom may have passed on, but his warmth, humor and memory live on.

My thoughts and deepest sympathies to Tom's family.

Farewell, Tom.  You'll be missed.

-Andy Erlandson ('94)

Thank you for all of the lovely posts.  Tom Nevins is my Uncle.  I was really missing him today and Googled his name and found this page.

I am so glad that he is remembered fondly.  We miss him!  As you know, he was quite a character.

I'm going to forward the link to this page to my Dad, Aunts and Cousins.  I know they'll enjoy reading this as much as I have.

Thanks again for sharing your memories!

Liz (Nevins) Glen

Denver, CO

I'm one of Tom's sons, Ian Nevins.  Thank you all for your kind posts, and feel free to pass on the word about this thread! I wold love to hear more of everyone's experiences/stories/recollections about him.  We all miss him like crazy. He was indeed, quite a character. And I'm still learning about what an inspirational teacher he was! I can tell all you former students of his out there: he really cared about you! This was not just a job to him, not at all! Teaching, inspiring, helping and befriending those students was what he was all about.  I hope that my "home' perspective on this is helpful to some of you out there.

Thanks again, and keep 'em coming,

Ian 

Tom Nevins was my favorite teacher.  I wasn't a theater major to begin with but ended up with one because of him.  I was in an acting one class with him.  After a particular improve that went really well, he said "Wow, I don't think we can top that today."  It made me feel really special...and confident.

He cast me as Ariel in The Tempest.  An experience I won't ever forget.  He had told me to find something to say when I was released from Prospero's service.  I experimented with different things and one day he came up to me and whispered "free". 

I try to remember to live with creativity and improvisation in my life.  Thank you Tom for helping me believe in myself.

Kari (Boldon) Welch

I just came across this.  I'm heartbroken.  Tom was more than a professor or teacher, he made us better people.  He inspired, trusted, guided, and believed in every student who came under his wing.  Tom believed in me long before I did.  The world is less without him but it is so much better because he was here at all.  Thank you so much, Tom, for everything. 

Kneel