Utah Valley University Wednesday announced the death of Jeffrey S. Tolk, 61, husband of university President Astrid Tuminez.
“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Jeffrey S. Tolk, husband of President Astrid Tuminez and First Gentleman of Utah Valley University. We will miss him more than words can express,” the university announced in a press release. The cause of death was not released.
Tolk had extensive experience in international banking and asset management. He began his career as a corporate lawyer on Wall Street and subsequently worked for Moody’s Investors Service in the Structured Derivatives group, according to a UVU profile. Following Moody’s, Tolk joined the Structured Credit group at HSBC, which transferred him to Hong Kong in 2003 as managing director and Asia head of structuring.
According to the profile:
“While in Singapore, Tolk also worked at Standard Bank as Asia head of institutional and corporate solutions, and at Resource Capital Markets. He was the owner of Eastgate Advisors Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based consulting and advisory firm, and is currently an active angel investor in the dynamic startup economy in Utah. Tolk has taught finance as an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University and is an outstanding supporter of all things UVU.” He earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, and a law degree from Harvard Law School.
He was an active angel investor in the dynamic startup economy in Utah. Those in Silicon Slopes expressed their condolences with his passing.
In 2023, Tuminez shared on the “All In” podcast that marrying Tolk was the most important decision she made in her life. They met at a church dance when they were both students at Harvard and were married on June 13, 1988. Tuminez shared that they were mutually supportive of each other’s education and aspirations.
“We had that commitment to one another, to supporting each other’s dreams. And that’s what I think is the secret. I always say a good marriage is one long conversation ... This kind of mutual support and mutual respect for one another’s dreams and one another’s ideas has really, really been important to my marriage, and no one’s prouder of what I accomplished than my husband.”
Tolk loved the outdoors and mountain climbing. His profile on the UVU website notes that he was an avid trekker and mountain climber, having summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mt. Whitney (U.S.), Mt. Kinabalu (Malaysia), Mera Peak (Nepal), Ojos del Salado high camp (Chile) and, most recently, Thorong La Pass on the Annapurna Circuit (Nepal).
Condolences
UVU athletic director Jared Sumsion shared his thoughts on X: “Our hearts and thoughts are with President Tuminez & her family today as we mourn the loss of her husband, Jeffrey S. Tolk. Jeff followed each Wolverine athletic team with love. Our deepest condolences go out to President Tuminez & their family at this tender time.”
Silicon Slopes also shared condolences, mourning the passing of the husband of one of its board members. He was “an incredible man who will be missed beyond words,” it shared.
Tolk is survived by his wife, Astrid, and their three children, Michal, Whitman and Leo. Funeral information is forthcoming. If you would like to share your condolences or memories, please visit uvu.edu/president/meet.