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Died:
- Thomas (Tom) Gamache, 83, of Calabasas, CA, passed away in October 2024, surrounded by his family. A native of Manchester, New Hampshire and a gifted landscape photographer, Tom came to love the natural world of the American West, most notably the Santa Monica Mountains.
Tom liked to recall an afternoon years ago when he was back in New Hampshire and driving his mother Adeline around Manchester. After quietly gazing out the window at people going about their daily lives, Adeline excitedly declared, ?Look at all of the stories!? Tom shared his mother?s fascination with the world around him. With a restless spirit and a curious mind, he lived a life of love, adventure, and a keen appreciation for the wonder and absurdities that each day might bring.
In pursuit of his images, he endlessly explored the West in his cherished 1972 Chevy Blazer, eventually putting 1.5 million miles on the truck. He especially loved photographing the Grand Canyon?s North Rim and the Colorado Plateau?s red rock country.
Tom became celebrated for his stunning photography of the Santa Monica Mountains, beautifully reproduced in the acclaimed Range on the Edge: The Santa Monica Mountains. Beyond their artistry, Tom?s photos played an essential role in advocating for the protection of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Before settling in California with his wife Nanci, Tom was a revolutionary radio personality in Boston. A showcase for his offbeat sensibility, Tom?s show Uncle T?s Freedom Machine earned him a place in radio history as a pioneer of free-form FM radio. In Los Angeles, Tom became one of the first DJs at iconic progressive rock station KMET, before transitioning to the recording industry and landscape photography.
Tom is survived by his devoted wife, his beloved son and daughter, grandchildren, and countless friends. His legacy of creativity, love, and appreciation for nature lives on in those who knew him. A Celebration of Life is planned for May 10, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the King Gillette Ranch Visitor Center in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Memorial donations can be made to the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority at www.mrca.ca.gov/donate.
Tom?s spirit endures through his art, in the memories of friends, and, above all, within the hearts of his cherished family. He would want those who loved him to honor him by embracing each day to its fullest. Just as he always did.
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1941 - 2024 (83 years)
