Whitefish Bay

Tom Mohr

Interview by Eileen Gosman
CNI Photo by John O'Hara

Strike up the band

Tom, president of the Whitefish Bay Community Band,
says, "Playing my horn is really my avocation." At one
time, he studied music and hoped to become a trombonist
in an orchestra. Instead, be majored in economics at
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and began working
at Northwestern Mutual serveral decades ago. He is a
compliance officer in long-term care.

Calling all Whitefish Bay musicians

"We are always interested in recruits, sas Tom of the
20- to 25-member community band. Fellow charter member
George Hardy of Mequon, formerly of the Bay, concurs:
"Only six of our members live in the Bay." George adds
that they would welcome more young people. Band
members range in age from 16 to 93. Tom says the band
gets "great support" from the recreation department, with
setups at Schoolhouse Park and rehearsal time at the
middle school. Concerts are a mix of marches, polkas and
old show tunes, "no long hair music," says Tom, who
encourages anyone who would like to join to call
conductor Carol O'Brien, (414) 351-2421.

Practicing all the time

Tom plays trombone with several other bands: the
Command Performance Band, a "Glenn Miller-type jazz band;"
the Festival City Brass band and the Northwestern Mutual
Band. Tom, who used to carpool to work with George,
says, "Wherever George Hardy is there is a band." The
Northwester Mutual Band was formed 20 years ago,
George says, "with three guys in my Whitefish Bay basement.
Now there are 20 of us."

In the yard and at the lake

Married for 40 years to June, who loves to garden, Tom
says, "I do the bull work -- tilling and lifting heavy bags."
They have a daughter, Melissa, and a son, Charly. A fisherman,
Tom enjoys muskie fishing with his brother-in-law at
"our secret lake" up north. He also belongs to the
Fisherman's Club at work.

Whitefish Bay Community Band Home