Carvlin, Thomas Richard, 97. Born July 28, 1926 in New York, N.Y. to Katharine nee Shorman and George Carvlin.

Served in France and Germany during WWII, including showing Holocaust footage to German citizens. Attended Creighton University. Raised in Pittsburgh, Carvlin moved to Chicago. He met Tommy, his future wife of 71 years, near his father's South Shore childhood home.

At the Chicago Tribune, he was national news editor during the Nixon administration and the 1968 Democratic Convention.

Preceded in death by sons Paul Stephen, Timothy Owen, and beloved grandchild Rachel Carvlin. Survived by wife, Maureen Evanne nee Thomas; sister Joyce Murphy; children Mary Carvlin, Peter Carvlin, Anne Bridges, Martha Carvlin, Monica (John) Regan, Elizabeth (Gregg) Carvlin Fuesel; 14 beloved grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren.

Carvlin served as a Catholic deacon from 1977 to 2023 at Ascension-St. Susanna Parish (now Lord of Mercy) in Harvey. He walked, ran and rode his bike thousands of miles. Please visit Tews-Ryan Funeral Home for service information.

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

Published by Chicago Tribune from Oct. 25 to Oct. 26, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Carvlin

18 Entries

Liz Carvlin

March 22, 2024

I love reading all of the fond memories everyone has of my dad. He loved life and that shows in his many adventures.

Sharon sulesk

March 7, 2024

I'm rereading my son Richard suleski 10000 miles of America. Tom traveled with him the last part of his journey biking. Wow lived to 97. Rich loved him. Rich died in 2007 at 35 on a bile trail in heaven together mother sharon suleski

Howard Finberg

February 28, 2024

Tom was a warm and caring colleague. It was a pleasure working with him.

Charline McGrath

Planted Trees

Katrina Cole

October 28, 2023

I have many fond memories of my Uncle Tom. Whenever we'd visit Chicago, he'd welcome not only me, but my husband and our four young children. He'd sit and talked to us all with a true genuine interest. My favorite memory was his trip to visit us in Oregon. He was in his 70s at the time and brought along his 10-speed bike, convincing us to drop him off on the Oregon Coast with just his backpack containing only a little pop up tent, change of clothes and his credit card. From there he embarked across the country, making it all the way home to Chicago, then continuing on to the East Coast. I remember thinking he was so amazing and I hoped I could live my life with the same sense of adventure and courage that he had.

Pamela Ciosek

October 27, 2023

I will miss you at my gate with your bike 'old friend.'
Thank you for your friendship and guidance for 20 some years at Ascension-St Susanna and beyond.

Love, Pam Ciosek

Sent Flowers

Bill Mullen

October 27, 2023

When I was a rookie reporter in the Chicago Tribune Neighborhood News sections in 1967, I sometimes over-worried my stories and would still be at my desk writing at night after everybody else had left for the day.
On some nights my boss, Bob Corbett, would be there late, too, as he did final edits on pages he was responsible for before sending them to the printers. Usually after six his good friend, Tom Carvlin, would come into our office to go to dinner with Bob.
If I was there, they would insist that I come along, too. I was a bit nervous being around editors, especially Mr. Carvlin, who was a very important editor in the main newsroom. But Tom Carvlin had a very kind and disarming nature that made you feel comfortable being around him. He took a genuine interest in everybody, and as a struggling neophyte in the business, I appreciated the attention he gave me.
We never worked together much in the ensuing years when I got to the main newsroom, but he was always a friendly presence I was happy to be around until he left the paper.
I am in a large group of Tribune veterans who started their careers at the paper in the 1960s and 1970s. We loosely stay in touch by email, and when word of Tom Carvlin´s passing began to spread, many of us shared memories of Tom.
I was surprised how many had experiences with him similar to mine. So many people reminisced about his intelligence and his high professional standards, but most of all people treasured him as a good, decent and caring person. He was memorably a true and worthy gentleman.

Richard Carvlin

October 26, 2023

Truly a special man to me, and the memories will always remain close to my heart. An adventurous spirit and brilliant mind that inspires me to this day, God speed, uncle Tim - I know you´ll be more than welcome in his house.

Gregg Fuesel

October 25, 2023

Tom, going to miss you alot. I am happy for the time we had together chatting on a range of topics and your multiple travels to Omaha. Liz, Owen and myself will miss you alot. Rest in peace.

Susan L Gardner

October 25, 2023

Praying for friend and family. May memories be good and may love abide with you.

Margie Mayewski

October 24, 2023

Going on long walks with him, getting excited when my mom would say Uncle Tim was coming to town.

Joe Ryan

October 24, 2023

Uncle Tom taught me how to Tie My Shoes when I was 4 years old. I remember as a kid going to Commisky Park to see the White Sox play with Uncle Tom and my dad. He also told me the story of How he met my Aunt Evanne.