Vladimir “Vlad” Ivan Thomas, 85, died Jan. 20, 2014. He was born on April 4, in Rochester, N.Y., to the late Vladimir Ivan Thomas and Helen Cook Thomas.
He graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee, and received his doctorate in English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1961.
He was an English professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1966-1990.
He raised his family with then wife, the late Margarita Silva Thomas in Fort Atkinson.
Upon retirement in 1990 he became a massage therapist, seeing people in his home office in Whitewater.
He was a political activist, supporting civil rights and the ERA and protesting the Vietnam War. He worked tirelessly with others to create legal certification for massage therapists in Wisconsin.
A longtime resident of Whitewater, he could be seen walking and biking around the community. He was a longtime student of Buddism and meditation.
Survivors include his daughters, Ana Silva of Minneapolis, Andrea Thomas of Sitka, Ark., Sylvia Weber of San Diego and Helen Bratko of San Jose and their families; wife, Barbara Miller; brother, Richard C., sister-in-law Beverly, nieces Elizabeth Matkom, Karen Diedrich and nephew Milo; and longtime friend Lynn Shoemaker.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Fairhaven Retirement Community in Fellowship Hall, 435 W. Starin Road Whitewater.
