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Tom Nier


3mxd
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Tom passed away last Monday, 12 April, at the age of 80 after a 20-year battle with Parkinson's. He was a member of this forum, a very long-time medal collector, a member of the Orders and Medals Society of America for over 50 years and a friend to all. He was a prolific writer having edited the "Gleim Medal Letters" and authored "AEF Award Certificates," as well as many articles for the Medal Collector/OMSA Journal for which he received the OMSA Literary Award several times over the years. His knowledge of the hobby was encyclopedic and he freely shared that knowledge. Tom held a PhD in physical chemistry and one of his favorite pastimes was applying that scientific technique to identifying the recipient of an otherwise anonymous medal or ribbon group. His death is a great loss. He was a fine man and a good friend. The world will be a lesser place for his absence.

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I had known Tom for 20+ Years and looked forward to seeing him at OMSA Conventions - I worked with him and George Reynolds on a study of Massachusetts National Guard Long Service Medals.

 

RIP Tom

 

Bill

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One of the real good guys, Tom was always ready to share his knowledge and always ready to learn more. Those who never knew Tom really missed out.

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Wow! I really feel gut-punched on this one. Dr. Tom was a true prince among men and the work that he did in the field of US medals was legendary. I will truly be missed.

 

May he Rest In Peace.

 

Allan

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mars&thunder

A friend of many years and one of the nicest guys in the world. I will miss him. He was a very very knowledgeable US medals guy, and he'd bend over backwards to help anyone. We are all less with this loss.

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Tom was a very good friend who shared his knowledge with anyone who asked.  He was an excellent sleuth who could find information about a medal or recipient when most came up with nothing.  His numismatic capability insofar as medal characteristics, number struck, and by who were concerned, he was unmatched.  Those of us who attended the last two OMSA conventions (2018 and 2019) received what I believe to be his last work, were two monographs on WW1 Silver Stars that matched the work of Col Gleim.  These were written with much difficulty due to his Parkinson’s.  “Once I had a comrade, none better.”

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Sorry to hear this. I pulled a lot of files at NPRC for Tom. He always had interesting projects and was a great pleasure to work with. My condolences to his family.

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I'm saddened to read of Tom's passing. I knew him through this forum and was always the recipient of his kind help and generosity in research or just conversation. His impact on our hobby and the people in it is immeasurable. He is a fine man and a true gentleman. I will miss his presence. 

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Tom was a long time friend. I met him for the first time in person in 1991. He was a giant in our hobby and will be sorely missed. Like Col. Gleim, he will never be replaced.  He was a great guy who would give you the shirt off his back.  I will miss our conversations which became limited to emails as his Parkinsons progressed.  

 

Rest in Peace Tom. 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I completely overlooked this news, but just saw it in JOMSA and then searched here this morning.  

 

I called Tom a few months ago saying I missed his activity on the forum.  He then revealed how sick he was; before he'd never mentioned it.  I regrettably never met him in person, but deeply appreciated his academic approach and great insights to the hobby.  I was honored by the care and interest he showed in my development as a specialist collector, both in terms of shared knowledge and offers to sell what he thought might strengthen "my archive". He humbly and tirelessly worked to shape our hobby into a serious discipline. 

 

This is making for a terribly sad morning.  You'll be missed Tom. 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I also missed this. I had some great conversations with Tom. Probably one of the nicest and most giving collectors I've ever met. 

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  • 1 month later...

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