Fanney’s wisdom & determination taught those around him what it truly meant to be alive.
Dr. Thomas Fanney '76, associate professor of mathematics, died in February 2005 following a battle with cancer. In life, Fanney was a scholar, an athlete, a beloved friend, son, father and husband.
When Fanney entered Virginia Wesleyan as a freshman in 1972, he was a scholar student, having transferred in six hours of calculus. After graduation, Fanney went on to get a master's degree at Colorado State University and a doctorate at Virginia Tech. When he returned to Virginia Wesleyan as a professor in 1989, he had not forgotten the liberal arts lessons learned during his time as an undergraduate; one better, he had mastered them.
"Most of us who knew Tom knew what a great mathematician he was. However, I think what made Tom unique from other mathematicians was that he had a great passion to help his students and colleagues understand the connection between mathematics and the liberal arts," said Denise Wilkinson, associate professor of mathematics and Fanney's longtime friend and colleague. "He did this through the classes he taught in the PORTfolio Program and several lectures he presented to the College community, such as "The Golden Mean in Art and Nature" and "The Greek Mathematician, Archimedes." He also created a mathematics course for non-majors to demonstrate the historical influence of mathematics on the shaping of Western culture and its connection to art, science, music, language and philosophy."
Fanney was engaged in the campus community through his active use of the racquetball courts in the Batten Center and involvement with the Virginia Wesleyan high school math contest, PORTfolio program and mathematics and computer science club. More than mere participation, Fanney's energy brought light to those around him. He was committed to the College, his colleagues and his students.
"Tom felt that our majors were members of a family, and treated them as such," said Wilkinson. "In addition to the on-campus math and computer science club events he helped sponsor, he also held an annual picnic at his home each year for all of the math and computer science faculty, majors and graduates."
Blessed with the ability to teach, perhaps most of all it was Fanney's wisdom and determination that taught those around him what it meant to truly be alive.
"When we think of Tom, it's often difficult not to focus on the last nine months of his journey with cancer; however, he dealt with his cancer in the most positive and determined way. He went on with his life as usual," Wilkinson said. "He continued to teach his classes and serve as Division Chair. He and Anita even hosted a party for the Math/Sciences Division at their home in October. He didn't even give up on his passion of racquetball. Even with chemo and radiation treatment, Tom continued to organized semi-weekly games at the Batten Center on campus, where he played racquetball with his colleagues, Pat [Lang], Chris [Haley], Willie [Harrell], student, Eric and my husband, Dave. They continued to play together as long as his health would allow. Going on with living is what Tom did."
Tom is survived by his wife, Anita, daughter, Molly and father, Bill.