05/06/2024
Tos was born in Seattle, in the master bedroom of the ‘Old Grey House’, the family home on Capital Hill, the same house where he would reside for most of his life.
At 10, Tos was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes, from which, after intensive treatment, he recovered. As a cancer survivor he yearly attended Camp Goodtimes, a medically-supervised summer camp for children and teens with cancer and their siblings. As an adult, he continued to return as a camp counselor, with the nickname of ‘Floss’, giving back to the community he loved.
He was educated at Garfield High and majored at the UW in business and international studies. Tos traveled and spent extended periods of time in Europe, Mexico, Central and South America.
In his early career he worked for Anderson Consulting, a company that provides technological solutions for the tech world. Later he attended theological seminary to prepare for a counseling career.
Highly intelligent, always on the quest for learning, he also received degrees/certifications in photography/film, carpentry, and computer programming. Of all his occupations, he was most passionate about videography and photography. His artistry demonstrates a gift for capturing the soul of the object.
In 2010, The Ballard Sessions were born out of a need for someone to record a musical performance and Tos’ ever willing spirit to support a cause. Over the course of a decade, Tos filmed his friends and community at the Fremont Abbey–outside Conor Byrne, in stairwells, tunnels, and parks–all in support of pure acoustic resonance. His aim was to capture music in its truest form.
Over the years, Tos’ brilliant gift of perceiving the heart, and sharing that with the viewer helped launch many musicians’ careers. Their gratitude for his talent, his infectious spirit, and his love for them, is readily apparent in their postings on his page. The Ballard Sessions will live on as a testament of Tos’ steadfast support and protection for all that is good, true, and beautiful.
Tos scaled back his artistic career as he cared for his ailing father the years before he passed in 2016. This temporary pause turned more permanent after Covid. These events may have triggered the most depressive period of his life, though he tried to hide his anguish behind his big hair and winning smile. Always by his side, his canine companion, Frankie, stood with him, giving him reason to live.
Last year Tos fought what he thought was long Covid. In fact it was lung cancer, a likely side effect of his childhood radiation treatments for cancer. By the time it was diagnosed, it had spread throughout his body. Tos, knowing his time was short, reached out to his friends. He wanted to see them, hear their music, and say goodbye.
For a final Ballard session, on Tuesday April 16, more than 100 musicians and friends gathered with Tos at the Abbey for his Celebration of Life, and many more wrote of their special memories. Some of his loved ones remained at his side as he returned to the hospital where he passed away two days later.
Tos had a bottomless love for people, even when he was sad, when he brooded, and felt broken. He was kind, selfless, generous, genuine, caring, authentic, creative, intelligent, humble, and self-deprecating. We enjoyed his wry sense of humor, his unique way of laughing, his bright, twinkling eyes, and his smile that lit up the room. All of us who knew and loved him are forever impacted.
Tos is survived by his mother, Ann, his older siblings, Aleph and Melaina, five nieces and nephews, the many people who hold him dear, and his faithful friend Frankie, who is now lovingly cared for by friends, Ember and Brian.
