Aprile, Thomas R.

Thomas R. Aprile, 57

IOWA CITY - Tom Aprile, sculptor and professor in the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, died suddenly at home during the night of Sept. 23, 2010. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at the UI Studio Arts Building on Highway 1.

Tom was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 28, 1953, to Helen and James Aprile. He received a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art and an MFA from Syracuse University in 1978. He taught at the University of Oklahoma, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and Oba Femi Awolowa University in Ife, Nigeria.

Tom first came to Iowa in 1982 and spent three years teaching at the university before moving to New York City. In New York, he worked at the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education Program and it was there that he met the painter, Laura Young, in 1989. They were married May 20, 1995.

In 1995, Tom and Laura moved back to Iowa City, when he was again invited to teach at the University of Iowa. Tom soon became a member of the tenured faculty. His goal was to be able to build on the tradition of excellence at Iowa and, from the time of his arrival, worked hard at restoring the sculpture area to its previous national reputation. Tom and Professor Isabel Barbuzza have attracted graduate students to the sculpture area from across the country.

Tom will be remembered for his many contributions to the students and the School. He enjoyed the Open Houses and was pleased to give time to the preparations for these. Students could always count on him for assistance outside of the regular class periods. He was a passionate voice and presence for excellence in teaching and the world of sculpture. He loved teaching and was generous in sharing his knowledge of both traditional and contemporary art forms; his figure modeling class was always well attended and appreciated as a touchstone to the classical world.

Tom and Laura spent many summers teaching at Ghost Ranch in Albiquiu, N.M., and it was there in recent years that he developed an avid interest in acting and playwriting. At Dreamwell Theatre, in Iowa City, he played Michael Flaherty in Playboy of the Western World in 2009 and was currently writing a play.

Tom had numerous one-person exhibitions in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and was included in group exhibitions across the country. He was the recipient of two Pollock-Krasner Foundation Fellowships, a New York Foundation Fellowship, and a Fulbright Grant to Nigeria.

In addition to his wife, Laura, Tom will be missed by his stepsons, Tim and Kevin Murphy; his nieces and nephew, Lena and Sam Aprile and Christine and Jamie Aprile; his brothers, James and Gary Aprile; as well as his many dear friends, colleagues and students.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Tom was a vital presence through his passion, curiosity and humor. His Sicilian heritage was expressed in his cooking and he will be remembered for the memorable meals and parties he hosted over the course of many years.

Tom also had a deep interest in collecting Folk Art and African Art and he responded to both sources as inspiration for his own work.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

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