Tom Wisner, affectionately known as “The Bard of the Bay,” died Friday, April 2, after a battle with cancer at the age of 79. The local songwriter and singer was born in Washington, D.C. on June 29, 1930, graduated from Anacostia High School before serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in biology from Hartwick College in New York and a master’s at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
After moving to Southern Maryland, he took a job teaching science at Chopticon High School and during the mid 1960s worked as an educator at the University of Maryland’s Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons. In 1965, the Washington D.C. Academy of Sciences awarded Wisner a citation for teaching. He later earned an Excellence in Teaching Award in 1988 for teaching the first Humanities course on the ecological crisis of the Chesapeake.
In pursuit of educating us and inspiring us to take better care of the Bay, he penned more than 100 songs about the Chesapeake. In 2002, Wisner was honored by the World Folk Music Association with its John Denver Award.
Cancer was not strong enough to defeat his passion and desire to educate about the treasure of the Chesapeake Bay. Although his health questioned his appearance at last year’s Annual Bernie Fowler Wade-In, Wisner showed up with guitar in hand to treat the audience with his music. He held hands with former Maryland state senator Bernie Fowler and Governor Martin O’Malley and the three proceeded to use their voices in support of the Chesapeake.
Tom Wisner may no longer be with us, but his passion, his spirit, and his numerous songs will forever linger with those who knew him.
