Thomas Respress '96
Thomas J. Respress '96 died on Oct. 15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Respress died from a brain aneurysm while working out in a gym, according to Jonathan L. Shingles '96. "Tom was very active in [intramurals], especially basketball,"Shingles said.
At the time of his death, Respress was working as a computer programmer for the C.H. Robinson Corporation in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was involved with intranet and Internet development and was working on client-server development, said his aunt Jennifer Ames. Respress was well liked at his job because "he was really a quick learner, and he knew quite a bit about software engineering," she said.
Respress, a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, had majored in electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. While at MIT,Respress was active in interfraternity issues and served on the Interfraternity CouncilJudicial Committee during rush.
"He was a really good guy and knew a lot of people on campus, not just other SAEguys," said SAE President Christopher M. Yanney '97.
Respress often attended MITsports teams' home events and integrated himself into the community as a whole, Yanney said.
"A lot of the freshmen said he was the only guy you could really talk to. He didn't keep to himself and was a really good friend to be around," Yanney said.
Respress was laid to rest on Oct. 19 at the Dawn Valley Funeral Home in Bloomington, Minnesota. Eleven of his 12 pledge brothers and three other members of SAEattended the funeral.
SAEheld a memorial service for Respress last Sunday night. "Everyone there agreed he never said anything bad about anyone else. Everyone really trusted him and talked to him as a friend," Yanney said.
Shingles said that Respress had been a true friend to many members of SAE. "His loss deeply saddens all of us. He will always be with us in our hearts and memories."
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