Born and raised in Joliet (a few miles from Tallgrass). Tom has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in English and Music. Advanced studies in Music Education led to a fifteen year career in Music Education, and organist and choir director duties at various churches. In 1981, Tom and partner Bob Burcenski restored an 1895 building and opened Tallgrass restaurant. Tom has traveled widely in Europe and studied oeneology in the Rhone, Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux. American wines have become Tom's passion and he has spent time with many of the new winemakers in Oregon, Washington and California. Tom has been active in the City of Lockport, most notably the Heritage and Architecture commission on which he has served for eleven years and counting. Tom also serves on the site committee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the Gaylord Building in Lockport. Tom's free time is spent managing the Norton Concert Series, a classical chamber concert program in Lockport’s Norton Building. In 1995 Tom and partner Bob Burcenski received the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois' award for preservation leadership in Illinois. If Tallgrass is open, you can count on seeing Tom orchestrate the service and wine cellars of Tallgrass.