Thomas Andrew Williams

Thomas Andrew Williams passed away on January 25. He was a loving husband and father, a brilliant innovator, and an inspiring leader. Even after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2021, Tom never stopped appreciating the abundance of beauty in his life.

Tom was born on August 18, 1964, in New Jersey. As a child he taught himself computer languages and started programming on TRS-80 computers at the local RadioShack.

At Villanova University he studied computer science and philosophy. In 1986, he and a friend created a free software program called “gnuplot” that provided a way to visualize scientific data. The program quickly gained popularity with scientists and students, and it is still used widely around the world today.

In 1988 Tom started working at Pixar Animation Studios while it was still a startup. There he helped develop RenderMan, the graphics software responsible for bringing life to the movies “Toy Story” and “Finding Nemo.”

Tom then worked at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), George Lucas’s visual effects company. Tom played a crucial role in developing ILM’s digital effects arm, contributing to groundbreaking scenes in “Jurassic Park” and “Forrest Gump.” This work heavily influenced the industry and won him multiple technical achievement Academy Awards.

It was at ILM that Tom met his wife, Kelly. They married in 1999 and had three beautiful children: Sofia, Isabella and Rocky.

In 2006, Tom began working for Google. He was VP of engineering and site leader for the Los Angeles operations. He helped transform the LA presence from a small office to a major operation with thousands of employees.

In 2018, Tom and the family moved to the Bay Area and Tom started working at Uber as senior vice president of engineering. He was known for his ability to analyze and solve complex problems and his excellent sense of humor. He was a kind and generous mentor to many of his co-workers.

Tom was a Renaissance man who could have a thoughtful conversation about almost any topic. When a subject would capture his attention, he would explore it deeply and passionately until he mastered it. His interests included sailing, woodworking, gourmet cooking, hiking, bike riding, playing guitar and growing vegetables. Tom never missed a day of the NY Times crossword, completing them consistently in pen (even when heavily medicated on opiates and ketamine during his cancer treatment). He shared his love of skateboarding with Sofia, his love of sailing with Izzy, and his love of board games with Rocky.

Tom was a unique and remarkable person. In his absence, we are heartened by memories of his brilliance, passion for life, and the kindness he shared with so many.

He is survived by his wife Kelly (Rood) Williams, his three children: Sofia Williams, Isabella Williams, and Rocky Williams, his brothers: David Williams and Christopher Williams, and his mother, Carole Williams.

The family requests that any donations be made to the Children’s Tumor Foundation at ctf.org.