TCC Board Chair Tom Wilson remembered for his passion, dedication

Tidewater Community College Board Chair Tom Wilson, 62, died Wednesday after a long illness.

Wilson joined the board in September 2007 and became chair in 2012. He had one more year remaining on his term as chair.

“One of the first people who welcomed me to TCC nearly a year ago was Tom Wilson, and I will miss him for his support of the college and for his friendship,” said TCC President Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani. “He was passionate about all that TCC represents in the Hampton Roads community, and as chairman of the TCC Board, he was a respected leader and visionary whose dedication never wavered. My deepest sympathies extend to his wife, Rosemary, and his daughters, Kari and Sarah.”

Wilson was deputy chairman and chief operating officer of Dixon Hughes Goodman, the largest certified public accounting firm based in the southern United States. He also chaired the Virginia Beach Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and was director of the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival Foundation. Wilson served on the boards of the Virginia Beach Public Schools Educational Foundation, Virginia Beach Vision, Inc., the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation, the Virginia Beach Library Foundation and the Virginia Beach Foundation.

“Tom Wilson was a dedicated member of the Tidewater Community College Board,” said John Padgett, vice chair of the College Board. “He served TCC with distinction. His leadership was important to the continued success of TCC. We will miss his sharp intellect, his warm smile and his desire to constantly improve the opportunities made available for the TCC community.”

At TCC, Wilson also chaired the Resource Development Committee from 2009-2011 and served on two other committees. He held a bachelor of science in commerce from the University of Virginia.

His wife, Rosemary, has been a Virginia Beach City Council member since 2000 and is the former vice chair of the Virginia Beach School Board.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Virginia Beach Education Foundation, the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad and the Virginia Beach Aquarium.