Dear Energy Bulletin readers,
We are sad to share the news that Tom Whipple, the longtime editor of The Energy Bulletin (previously Peak Oil News), passed away in November 2024. Tom Whipple was a brilliant researcher and consolidator of energy news, and he was extraordinarily generous in sharing his time and expertise with Post Carbon Institute via Energy Bulletin and as a Fellow. He is irreplaceable. We miss him, and wish the best for those closest to him.
Richard Heinberg
Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute
Those who knew Tom may share memories of him at the funeral home website, where photos and memories from others can be found.
Thomas S. Whipple died of cancer on November 18, 2024, surrounded by his family. Born April 13, 1938, in New York City to Thomas Thilo and Harriett Sample Whipple, Tom grew up as an only child in Scarsdale, NY, attended the Edgemont School, and graduated from Bronxville High School. He graduated from Rice Institute (now University) and earned an M.A. from the School of International Service at American University followed by Doctoral studies at the London School of Economics.
In 1960 he married Mary Margaret Whipple (née Hierth), with whom he shared 64 happy years of marriage and two daughters. He is survived by Mary Margaret and his daughters Beth Michieli-Grote (Greg) and Margie Kelleher (Brian). He was also lovingly known as “Lord Thomas” by his five grandchildren: Tyler (Jenna); Kyle (Molly); Brandon (Aimee Minard); Madeline (Dan Brown) and Katherine, and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Sue Crawford (Jim).
His happiest days were spent at the family cottage in Ontario, Canada where he went nearly every summer of his life and maintained life-long friendships. He built his first motorboat when he was 14, always going as fast as he could, raced in his sailboat, managed never-ending projects, and loved spending time with family and friends.
Tom spent most of his life in public service, working for the United States government and later volunteering his time and talents to a variety of causes. After serving a tour of duty in the Army Counter-Intelligence Corps, he spent a 30-year career as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. He took the lead in modernizing the technology of the Agency’s Operations Center at a time of rapid change and guided the training of a generation of Agency analysts.
Tom earned his private pilot license as a young adult and maintained the hobby for many years. He became a flight instructor and was a co-pilot for a charter air taxi service on the weekends.
Ever curious, he delighted in learning new things and then teaching others, earning him the title of “Professor” from friends. His favorite topics included emerging technology, politics, and energy issues, interests which he pursued and shared with others in his retirement.
Always innovative, he was an early adopter of the internet and started a daily e-mail of Virginia’s political and government news that went to thousands of interested readers. For nearly 20 years he got up at 4 a.m. every day to prepare and send it out. The VaNews, or “the Whipple Clips”, was immensely popular and was featured in a Washington Post article. It is now in the hands of the Virginia Public Access Project, which continues to produce it for free for a much-expanded audience.
Concerned about the environment and energy issues, he became the editor of the “Peak Oil News”, a publication of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO) – USA. He wrote a weekly column on the energy crisis for the Falls Church News-Press and was a Fellow of the Post-Carbon Institute.
For many decades he also volunteered for Arlington Democrats, using early technology to automate processes for the Democratic Party of Virginia. He started the volunteer Campaign Support Center, for which he was named the first “Campaign Volunteer of the Year”. He was honored as a Distinguished Democrat by the Arlington Democrats in 2021.
A long-time member, trustee, and Elder of Church of the Covenant, Presbyterian, in Arlington, VA, his memorial service will be held December 7 at 2 p.m. at the church, 2666 Military Road. Visitation will be December 6, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Virginia Public Access Project at VPAP.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1472, Richmond, VA 23218.