!SOURCE: This is a biography written by his brother, Scott Richard
McLeod, smcleod@@landoflakes.com, from memories.
Thomas J. McLeod, Jr. (T.J.) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota at St.
Joseph''s Hospital. A nine and a half pound baby. WOW! T.J. was the
youngest of eight. He followed his all his siblings through Immaculate
Heart of Mary grade school, finishing the eighth grade in 1983.
Again, following several family members, T.J. attended Cretin High
School. It was there that several long-lasting friendships were
established. At the age of 15, he started working at Kowalski''s
Supermarket on Grand Ave. in St. Paul. After two short weeks he was
promoted to work in the produce department. This small sounding
promotion had a profound impact on the next seven years of his life. It
was there that he made very strong friendships, and a commitment to
diligence. He practically worked full-time all through high school and
college. With some of this money, and the help of his parents, he took a
trip with his class to Germany. This spurred a huge interest in the
German language and culture.
All these long hours spent at Kowalski''s took valuable time away from
studying. T.J. barely got in to Hamline University. His grades were quite
poor due the lack of effort put forth. However, he learned a strong work
ethic, not once calling in sick to work in seven years, and not once
being late.
T.J. had many interests during college. He triple majored in German,
Political Science, and Philosophy. He also bloomed as a self-taught piano
player. In December 1990, he went to Spain and spent 2 months in
Madrid, returning in February 1991. He also spent the summer of 1991
studying in Duesseldorf, Germany. It was during this trip that T.J.
became quite obsessed with the plan to move to Germany after finishing
college. His grades were representing his enthusiasm now. In order to
graduate inside of five years he would have to go to school all year
around, loading up extra during the fall and spring. During the last 2
years of college, he got almost all straight A''s.
On June 1st, 1992 he moved to Germany getting himself an apartment
and finding several jobs, some piano related. This vision of living abroad
was void of a real plan. He took several more courses in Rothenburg,
Munich, and Murnau, Germany. While dabbling with his interest in
Germany, he obtained a teaching certification.
T.J. began teaching German in the fall of 1995 at his alma-mater, now
the coed Cretin Derham Hall high School. He brought two groups of
students to Germany. The fall of 1997 appears to mark the beginning of
the end for teaching. He is determined to find something else German
related, or perhaps something new. T.J.''s real passions seem to entail
music, foreign languages and cultures.
In following T.J.''s timeline, the two most obvious changes that
occurred in his life are undoubtedly: his decision to quit drinking alcohol,
due to drinking problem, and his re-devotion to Christ. These new
commitments designed a happier, healthier T.J. God bless!