William Thomas Kiley

William Thomas (Tom) Kiley was born on August 31, 1938 to William Thomas Kiley Sr., and Helen Robertson Kiley in San Francisco, California. Along with his brother John and sister Linda, Tom grew up in the neighboring small town of San Bruno. He was graduated from Junipero Serra High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Saint Mary’s College of California where he was named Class Valedictorian. In 1969, in Providence, R.I, Brown University conferred upon Tom the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Mathematics, and he took a faculty position in September of that year in the Department of Mathematics at what was then the George Mason College of the University of Virginia. In addition to teaching classes for 43 years, Tom spent considerable time and effort, first as one of the founders, then as a member, of the George Mason Faculty Senate, and as Chair of its Academic Policies Committee. The Senate helped to build a solid academic foundation and framework for a fledgling school of 1500 students which became George Mason University in 1972 and which is today a major (35,000+ students strong!) research institution with a national and international reputation. But teaching was Tom’s real calling. He rigorously arranged his non-teaching obligations so as not to miss a class, even when colleagues could have been called upon to substitute for him. With the students’ best interests in mind, he pushed them to apply the same dedication to their studies, and he committed himself to being so well-organized that nary a minute of their class time was wasted. Tom made and maintained friendships, as well as collegial bonds, with many members of the GMU community through the years. Some long-standing, university-wide recreational activities for faculty were initiated and sustained as a result of his efforts: a duplicate bridge club, a hiking club, a Gourmet Group which began as part of the George Mason Women’s Association (and continues today). He organized group vacations with colleagues and their families in the mountains, and at the shore. Tom and his wife Evelyn have been patrons of the GMU Center for the Arts since its opening in 1990, and devoted fans of GMU student-athletes, cheering them on at the Patriot Center/Eagle Bank Arena and at athletic venues across the campus. Since their retirements, they have been taking classes at GMU, totally enjoying the opportunity to learn from expert colleagues about topics that had intrigued them over the years. The Kileys also have been faithful members of the Catholic community in Northern Virginia since their arrival here in 1969, worshiping at parishes including St. Leo the Great, St. Mark’s, St. Clare of Assisi, Sacred Heart, and St. Mary of Sorrows. “Tom has been the greatest blessing of my life, and it is clear from the many expressions of sadness and feelings of loss received that, in the words of a dear neighbor, Tom had a kind heart, an amazing spirit and people who really cared about him. He already is missed by many, including, of course, his wife of over fifty very happy years.” – Evelyn Kiley Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the George Mason University Foundation, Inc., in support of the Tom and Evelyn Kiley Scholarship Endowment and/or the GMU Friends of the Center for the Arts. The scholarship endowment assists GMU student-athletes to complete their degree requirements, after having exhausted their eligibility to compete in NCAA sports. The Friends of the Center for the Arts provide financial and volunteer support for the Center’s programs and activities, particularly the Great Performances at Mason series which brings world-renowned artists to the Northern Virginia stage. Memorial Donations may be sent to: George Mason University Foundation 4400 University Drive, MSN 1A3 Fairfax, VA 22030 Main Phone: 703.993.8850