Thomas Michael Dzwinel completed his earthly journey on May 12, 2025, after a long and meaningful life. His loving wife Colleen was with him as he passed, sharing this moment together just as they had shared during their 60 years of marriage.

Tom was born on November 6, 1938 to Virginia and Stanley Dzwinel in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin where he graduated from Saint Mary's High School. Tom began his college years at Saint Norbert College and then transferred to Carroll College where he received his bachelor's degree in science with a major in Biology. Tom began to study for a master's degree at DePaul University in Chicago, and then transferred to the University of Montana, where he received a Master of Education in the Teaching of Science.

At Saint Mary's, Saint Norbert's and at Carroll College he played on varsity teams in football, basketball, and track. Throughout his life he shared his love of sports, with the opportunity for personal growth that can come from experiencing teamwork. Remaining in contact with fellow coaches and student team members gave him great pleasure throughout his life.

Tom's teaching and coaching began at the Christian Brothers Boys' Central High School in Butte, Montana in 1964. In 1966 he began teaching and coaching at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane. Throughout his 48 years at Prep he actively participated in national science organizations, and often gave presentations at conventions. During the summers he attended programs for science teachers at places such as Cambridge University, the New York Museum of Natural History, and at the Smithsonian.

In 1990, Tom and his wife Colleen developed a summer science program for elementary students at the Cheney Cowles Museum in Spokane.

Selecting a new theme each summer they continued at the museum for five years and then relocated to larger facilities at Gonzaga Prep for the following twenty years. In 2015 he was pleased to "pass the torch" of directing Science Safari to Prep teacher Karen Round. who had been teaching in the program throughout the years. She and her husband Pat now look forward to directing the program for their seventh year, carrying on Tom's legacy.

Tom and Colleen (McCarthy) were married in 1964, after meeting each other during their years at Carroll College. Since they were both teachers, they had the opportunity for extensive travel throughout the United States and Europe during summer vacations. Visiting science museums, art museums, zoos, historical locations, stately English homes, and French chateaus made their travels turn into lifetime memories. When he recalled kissing the Blarney stone in Ireland , visiting the home of Charles Darwin, and riding in Winston Churchill's private elevator always put a smile on his face. Attending Broadway musicals, plays, and classical and popular concerts in Spokane, New York, and London was always enjoyed by Tom. Many trips to Paris and the French countryside were always a fun adventure, even when he had to use his cane to manage the European paved streets and the busy airports.

During Tom's years growing up in Kenosha he was blessed with the love and encouragement from his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He and his younger sister Carol Ann Dzwinel remained close throughout their lives. College friends became lifetime friends, such as Barbara and Craig Savage, who made Colleen and Tom part of the life of their children and grandchildren. Colleen's cousins Thomas Puhek, and Pennie Puhek, Timothy Puhek, Samuel Puhek and Sally Litchfield shared a lasting lifelong friendship with Tom, filled with happy memories right up to Tom's final days. Judy Howard, a great friend who traveled to England with Tom and Colleen one summer, had decades of great conversations with Tom. Throughout his lifetime, Tom's relationship with his family and friends, with his fellow teachers, and with his students, gave great meaning to his long and eventfull life.

Tom is survived by his loving wife Colleen, his wonderful Dzwinel and Bistrick Cousins in Wisconsin, and Colleen's McCarthy Cousins in Montana, Nevada, Oregon, California and Washington. A private graveside service will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, WA. Online memorial pages can be found at www.legacy.com