Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories

Tombrello–109
TOMBRELLO: It really is a joke. As I was saying earlier, I think that my mother, who was of
German descent, a little hill-country girl from central Texas, was probably at least as tough as
my grandfather and wasn’t afraid to show it. That generation really had to deal with a lot of bad
things. I think my generation has had less to deal with. I was lucky. I was too young for World
War II. Too young for Korea, too old for Vietnam. I just skated through there. Born in the
middle of the Depression but growing up basically in the boom times after World War II, easier
times. We weren’t the greatest generation. I hope we do our best.
ASPATURIAN: Maybe the luckiest generation.
TOMBRELLO: Maybe we were the luckiest generation. I don’t think it’s the high point of
American society, I really don’t. I look at the kids who come out of Caltech and say, “Oh,
they’re just as bright as anybody who has ever lived in the history of the world. They’re going to
change things.” Actually, that’s a good place to stop.
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