Thomas Armon Brigham

June 23, 1942- June 25, 2025

Tom Brigham of Pullman, Washington, aged 83, died on June 25th at Regency Retirement Community in Pullman, Washington. Tom was the sixth child of Vivian (Wasson) Brigham and Chester Brigham. Tom was born in Battleground, Washington and grew up on a small farm where he participated in 4-H and won prizes raising dairy cows. Tom attended Clark College and the University of Washington where he received his B.A. in Psychology. He went on to earn a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Kansas where he met his first wife Joan (Jacobson) Brigham.

Tom and Joan moved to Pullman, Washington from New Jersey (Tom was a faculty member at NYU) with their two children, Jeremy and Christy, in 1972 where Tom joined the faculty of Washington State University in the Psychology Department. Tom was a member of the Department for over thirty years and was Department Chair for a number of years. The Psychology Department at WSU was Tom's true home and bringing his skills in behavior analysis to research solutions to problems such as college drinking and sexual assault, the AIDS epidemic, underprepared student athletes, and other important issues was the main work of Tom's life. Tom also enjoyed bringing people together and was known for his corn parties in the summer, mulled wine parties in the winter and participation in political and community activities. Tom was also an excellent mentor and advisor and many of his students and colleagues benefited from Tom's knowledge, kindness, and guidance. Tom also served in a number of roles in the WSU administration including head of the Student Advising and Learning Center, Executive Secretary for the Faculty Senate, and Special Assistant to President Lane Rawlins.

In addition to his work as a researcher and professor in Psychology, Tom enjoyed sailing on Lake Pend Oreille and Lake Coeur D'Alene where he kept a sailboat for most of his life, gardening, and working with local community groups such as the Pullman Civic Trust. Tom was a founding member of the WSU Emeritus Society and after his retirement from WSU Tom enjoyed meeting with other retired faculty, traveling with his second wife Sue (Correll) Brigham and working in his yard.

Tom is predeceased by his first wife Joan, his second wife Sue, his stepgrandson Tyler Correll, and his siblings Robert Brigham, Vivian Draper, Frank Brigham, Mary Wolff, and Melvin Brigham. Tom is survived by his son Jeremy Brigham (Rena Levine), daughter Christy Brigham (Mitch Allen), and grandchildren Sylas Allen, Quix Allen and Bergida Brigham as well as stepchildren James Correll (Carla Correll), Debbie Dwight, Mary Jo Ann Sandoval, Corey Correll and stepgranddaughter Breanna Correll.

Tom's kindness, interest in people and the workings of the world, and sage advice will be missed by the many people who knew him throughout his life.

A Celebration of Life will be at 2 PM on Saturday, October 18th on the WSU Campus in the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE) room 518. Everyone is welcome. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the American Civil Liberties Union or Habitat for Humanity of the Palouse.