Thomas J. Bichsel

Obituary Thomas Bichsel July 22, 1926 - February 16, 2015 Biography Thomas J. Bichsel passed away peacefully at home on Monday, February 16, 2015. Tom was born in Tacoma, Washington on July 22, 1926 to Sarah and George Bichsel. He was the fifth son of a family of seven children. Tom received a Catholic education through Holy Rosary School and Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma. He served in the Army in World War II as an aircraft mechanic, working in the Philippines and Guam on the P-51 fighter. After the war, Tom received an accounting degree from Seattle College (University) and put himself through law school at Georgetown University in Washington DC. While in Washington D.C. he roomed with John Spellman, later governor of Washington State, and Mike Gravel, later U. S. Senator from Alaska. In 1952, Tom and Mike Gravel travelled to Alaska to explore the land. Tom got a job in the office of Wendell Kay, a well- known Alaskan defense attorney. He also purchased the Eagle House, a well-known midtown boarding house. Ted Stevens rented a room there when he first came to Anchorage and Norman Mailer was a guest when he visited Alaska. Tom was a New Deal Democrat who ran against Bob Bartlett for the Senate in 1966. He was instrumental in forming the Young Democrats group in Alaska. He attended the inauguration of John F. Kennedy, where he was seated next to Gene Kelly. The Kennedy administration appointed Tom the Director of Urban and Rural Development, Interior Department, for the State of Alaska. In 1971, Tom opened The Second Chance, a thrift store, an iconic fixture along Spenard Road which he operated until his death. Words to describe Tom would include "one of a kind," "a true Alaskan character" and "gregarious and perhaps a little crusty." He was noted for his kind heart as well as his outspokenness, which sometimes got him into predicaments. He loved his family and cherished the time spent with them. Tom loved to sing and for many years was part of the choir at Holy Family Cathedral. He quietly and generously supported many Catholic institutions as well as many down-and out-individuals. He lived by and counseled others in the axiom "Waste not, want not." Tom leaves behind an extended family of 29 nieces and nephews throughout the U.S. and his brothers, Rev. Bill Bichsel SJ (Tacoma) and Jack Bichsel (St. Paul, MN.). A visitation for Tom was held at Evergreen Memorial Chapel (737 E Street) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26 and his funeral was held at St. Benedict's Catholic Church (8110 Jewel Lake Road) on Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Tom's name to Lumen Christi High School (8110 Jewel Lake Road, Anchorage, AK 99502) or Holy Rosary School (504 S. 30th St., Tacoma, WA 98402).