Tom Homer passes at age 60

Colfax Record Editor Tom Homer, a presence in Placer County journalism for more than a quarter century, was found dead in the newspaper?s downtown office Monday morning. He was 60.Starting in the late 1970s after moving to Auburn to take a job as a Journal sports writer, Homer took on several jobs. For the past four years, he edited a weekly paper in Colfax that won numerous California Newspaper Publishers Association awards.Homer was discovered already dead early Monday by an employee lying on the floor of the Record building. Placer County Sheriff?s Department Sgt. John Addoms said a coroner?s investigation was taking place to determine cause of death but that Homer died of apparent natural causes.Bruce Cosgrove, Auburn Chamber of Commerce executive director, described Homer as ?just a wonderful guy.?Homer?s work as a journalist interspersed periodically with business of the chamber.As the Journal editor between 1981 and 1989, Homer also served on the chamber board and the city?s 1988 centennial committee. During the centennial year, he was author of a coffee table book ?Auburn and Placer County: Crossroads of a Golden Era.?Cosgrove said that Homer was involved early on in discussions that would result in the formation of the city?s Main Street business revitalization program. In the 1990s, after leaving the Journal to start another publication, he was hired to serve as the Main Street program?s coordinator.Homer was a staple at Tuesday morning meetings of the chamber?s Economic Development Committee, more loosely named The Meddlers.Cosgrove said he could recall few if any meetings Homer missed over the years.?It was important to him,? Cosgrove said. ?It was a forum for Tom Homer. He was able to share his knowledge of the local cast of characters and brought his Colfax report almost every week to the forum.?Cosgrove said Homer will likely be remembered by Meddlers members with both a moment of silence today and a round of Tom Homer stories.Homer also produced the chamber?s Small Street Journal newsletter for several years and was active in Lions International, first with the Host Club and later with 49?er Lions.?He was actively involved as a volunteer,? Cosgrove said. ?He didn?t just talk about it, he rolled up his sleeves and was part of the process.?Homer left an indelible impression on the hearts of many people he knew.Artist and long-time best friend Jan Kapple said her life will never be the same now that Homer is gone.?If this is true and it can?t be, then I?ve lost my secret keeper, my confidante, my comforter, my heart friend and a huge piece of my soul,? Kapple said.Homer?s work was well-respected within the journalism community.?He left us too soon,? Auburn Journal Publisher Craig Dennis said. ?We needed one more history book from Tom. He was Mr. Colfax and Mr. Auburn and he still had some great stories to tell.?In Colfax, Homer established the Record as a topical, weekly must-read for locals. Staff writer Cory Fisher said that she was surprised at Homer?s ability week after week to distill the community?s comings and goings onto the paper?s pages.?It?s going to be a huge loss for the community,? Fisher said. ?He had an intensive knowledge of the people and the inner workings of the city.?On a personal level, Fisher said she?ll dearly miss a man who was a gossip ?but a compassionate gossip.?Arthur Thomas Homer Jr. was born May 7, 1943, in Island Park, Mich. And grew up in South Field, Mich.He was 35 when he was first hired by the Auburn Journal as sports reporter in 1979. Before that he had worked as editor at the Brentwood Post, a weekly in Los Angeles, associate editor at the Palisadian-Post, a weekly in Pacific Palisades, and associate sports editor at the Thousand Oaks News-Chronicle. He started his newspaper career in 1970 after graduating from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in photojournalism. From 1971 to 1978, Homer also served as a photographer for Dallas Cowboys at their pre-season training camp at California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks.Before enrolling in college, Homer served in the Navy from 1961 to 1967, including postings at Alameda, Moffett Field and Alaska.Homer?s former wife, Jan Reome, said arrangements for a memorial service are in the planning stages. Survivors include daughters Melissa Ann Barrera of Auburn and Kimberlee Homer of Sacramento, two grandchildren, and a sister, Janet Beach of Windsor.?He was loved by his family and we know he loved his community,? Reome said. ?He loved what he did and he?ll be missed.?The Journal?s Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com.