Thomas Obermeyer was at once a teacher and a student.
A trained architect, the Minneapolis resident never lost his eye for design, his prowess in the classroom or his itch for learning.
"His hobby seemed to be information. He read all the time," said Mary Beth Obermeyer, his wife of nearly 50 years.
Obermeyer, 72, died unexpectedly earlier this month of natural causes.
Born in Fairmont, Minn., Obermeyer graduated from Fairmont High School in 1959 and earned a bachelor of architecture degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1965. After several years in his chosen profession, Obermeyer received a master of education and a doctor of education from the University of Minnesota in 1983 and 1993, respectively.
Obermeyer, who preferred to go by Tom, began his career in St. Paul with Cerny Associates Architects and subsequently headed Thomas Obermeyer Architecture and wrote seven books on the subject.
In 1974, Obermeyer was featured in a Minneapolis Tribune story about his extensive remodeling of the family's modest south Minneapolis home. Obermeyer told the newspaper that by doing the remodeling himself, he cut costs by 75 percent. "I knew there was no way I could swing a $50,000 house, so I bought a 65-year-old house with potential for expansion and modernization and did the work myself," Obermeyer said.
The Obermeyer house also was featured in several magazines in the 1970s, including Better Homes and Gardens.
"He knew how to add spaces without taking up so much of the yard," said Mary Beth Obermeyer. "He was fascinated with design, even salt shakers and gutters that came down the house. And he loved to create with his hands."
But for 44 years, Obermeyer's passion was teaching architecture in the Minnesota State College and Universities system and at the Twin Cities campus of St. Mary's University.
Many years, he even took students on an architectural tour of Europe.
"He took every student seriously," said Mary Beth Obermeyer. "He always told them, 'You're not going to work for an architect. You're going to work with an architect.' "
Daughter Kristin Quinby said education and family were of keen importance to her father.
"We could do whatever we wanted to do after graduation, but getting an education was the most important thing," Quinby said. "He was always learning. Just before he died, he was reading a leather-bound atlas that my mom gave him as a gift."
She said her dad loved to travel, and his family often would accompany him on his European trips with students.
"He was truly brilliant," Quinby said. "We didn't need Google. We'd just call dad."
Besides his wife, Mary Beth, and daughter, Kristin, Obermeyer is survived by two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son Mark, parents John and Renata Obermeyer and brother, David.
A mass will be celebrated Oct. 13 at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.
David Phelps • 612-673-7269
