Willard “Waldo” Tuomi, age 84, died on Nov. 8 after a long illness. Tuomi taught and coached at Carleton for 37 years, beginning as an Instructor in Physical Education for Men in 1955 and retiring in 1992 as an Associate Professor of Physical Education for Men. Along the way, he briefly coached basketball, but focused on baseball, football, and was the head coach of men’s swimming and diving from 1958-92. Tuomi was greatly appreciated by his colleagues and students for his loyalty and his laid-back demeanor. He was known for his sense of humor and clever sayings, including stories about the summer of 1988, when Tuomi coached the Joensu Walves football team in Finland— which was anything but “real” football then.

His nickname, “Waldo,” came from his time at Hibbing (Minn.) High School—he was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2003—and jokingly followed him to Carleton.

A memorial service for Tuomi will take place this Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the Wulff Funeral Home, 1485 White Bear Ave., St. Paul, MN 55106. Visitation will begin one hour before the service at 10 a.m.