THOMAS B. MORRIS Jr.

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Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Princeton University

THOMAS MORRIS Obituary

MORRIS
THOMAS B. JR.

83, a long time resident of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, and former law partner and chairman of the Philadelphia firm, Dechert LLP, died Thursday, May 14, 2020, after a valiant battle with Lewy body dementia.
Tom joined Dechert after graduating from Harvard Law School in 1962. In 1968, he opened Dechert's first international office in Brussels, Belgium and served as the Consul of Belgium in Philadel-phia from 1974 to 1989. His legal practice involved advice concerning a broad range of corporate matters, particularly
related to international organizations.
A graduate of Princeton University, Tom was awarded the Roper Trophy, the University's highest athletic award and won six letters in football and baseball. In 1957, he earned the Maxwell Award, given to the best college football player in the country for his winning performance against Colgate where he scored three touchdowns and threw for a fourth.
Tom served on a number of corporate boards including The
Berwind Group, Peirce-Phelps, Inc, Asten Johnson, PNC Bank,
Thomas Jefferson University and Thomas Jefferson Univer-sity Hospital, The Philadelphia Contributionship, Keystone State Life Insurance, Harmac Medical Supplies, Yarway, Envirite Corporation, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Greater Philadelphia First, The Free Library of Philadelphia, the International House of Philadelphia, Princeton University, Lake Paupac Club, and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (formerly Chestnut Hill Academy). He also served as Chairman of Peirce-Phelps and the International House of Philadelphia.
Tom was a member of Pine Valley Golf Club, Sunnybrook Golf Club, The New York Athletic Club, The Philadelphia Club, The Racquet Club, and The Athenaeum of Philadel-phia. An avid skier.
Tom and his family spent their winters in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was always in search of the perfect turn.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, to Margaret O'Shaughnessy Morris and Thomas Bateman Morris, Tom was the oldest of five siblings with whom he remained deeply connected throughout his life: Jeremiah "Jerry" Morris, Ellen "Ellie" Roebuck, Joseph "Joe" Morris, and Nancy Prior. He graduated Cum Laude from Columbus Academy in 1954. His experi-ence at The Academy was profound and life-changing. In 2004, he created, and fully funded, an Alumni Scholarship in his name through the award program which had provided him the opportunity to attend the school as a young man.
Tom is survived by his wife and best friend of 57 years, Ann Peirce Morris, and their three children; Lauren Ayres O'Connell (James O'Connell), Thomas Bateman Morris III, Richard Trevor Morris (Alice Tasman Morris), and four grandchildren; Julia, Jack, Clay, and Louisa. Despite a lifetime of professional accomplishments, Tom considered his family his greatest success.
Due to the Corona virus, a memorial service will be held at a later time to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tom Morris '54 Alumni Memorial Scholarship fund at Columbus Academy, 4300 Cherry Bottom Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230, or the Free Library in Philadelphia https://freelibrary.formstack.com/forms/donation.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer on May 20, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for THOMAS MORRIS

8 Entries

Jim McGuire

September 26, 2020

Tommy Morris (#45) was my boyhood hero and lifelong role model. My Dad, who took me to Princeton football games, arranged for me to meet Tom before practice in the fall of 1956 when the attached picture was taken. On October 20, 1956 I saw Tom “do it all” against Colgate, scoring 3 touchdowns, passing for another, holding on all 4 points after, along with a key game saving goal line interception. I met Tom again on June 14, 1958 at the Commencement Weekend baseball game against Yale where Tom scored the winning run and autographed a foul ball for me.

I was touched to read the comments of the partner at Dechert, who succeeded Tom as Chairman of the Firm, when he said that Tom cared about the wellbeing of everybody, not just the important ones. Of course I knew that back in 1956 when he took time to meet a wide-eyed 4th grade kid before football practice and corresponded with him thereafter.

I still have the picture of Tom and me along with the ball he autographed. More importantly, I have lasting memories of Tom as my boyhood hero and role model as an adult. I offer my heartfelt condolences to Tom’s family and am grateful for the memories I have of Tom.

Jim McGuire
Pennington, NJ

Joan (Mrs. George S.) Forde

June 5, 2020

Dear Ann,
I am so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. I saw his funeral posted on the OMC website. I remember him as so smart and genial with a great sense of humor. I know my deceased husband George was very fond of him and respected his skills as a fellow lawyer. George has been gone for nine years now. I am still in the house opposite yours, which will always be "The Morris House" in my eyes. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Joan Forde

Louis G Martin, MD

May 30, 2020

Growing up in Columbus, Ohio as a close friend of Tom's younger brother Jerry, we considered Tom as our hero. We certainly could not have chosen a better one. I would like to offer my sympathy, prayers and best wishes to the Morris family.
Sincerely,
Louis G. Martin, MD

Jim Freund 917

May 21, 2020

Tom was a close friend of mine in law school and for some years thereafter. I would very much like to get in touch with his wife Ann. Could you please send this to her -- my contact info below and my phone # is 917-856-5846.

Tina Hoffman

May 20, 2020

Condolences to all the Morris family. I have such fond memories as a youngster of Tommy being in our lives. My Dad coached Tommy at Columbus Academy and encouraged him to attend his alma mater Princeton.

Joe Hoffman

May 20, 2020

My sympathies to the entire Morris family on this occasion and especially to Ellie who was a friend in high school in Bexley. Tom was a solid role model for many of us who came behind.

Sally Sherman

May 19, 2020

Tommy was a special cousin for sure...many memories from Columbus, when he was at Harvard Law (and I at Endicott), and visiting Aunt Nina simultaneously in High Point. Condolences to Ann, Lauren, Tad and Richard.

Jerry OShaughnessy

May 19, 2020

I idolized Tommy when I was in high school and college. He was 4 years older than me and I bragged to my friends about my cousin, the Princeton football player.

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