Thomas Clifton Maxim

1984 - 2018

PETERBOROUGH -- Thomas Clifton Maxim, 34, formerly of Greenville, Michigan, passed away in Peterborough on Wednesday, May 23.

Born on February 3, 1984, Tom was a lover of music, education, advocacy, the great outdoors and his Country. Upon graduating high school in 2002, Tom enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, serving his country in the Marine Corp's Force Reconnaissance Company, serving in Okinawa and Iraq during his four year enlistment. He then transitioned to civilian life and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2006 to begin collegiate studies at Central Piedmont Community College, becoming Student Government President and subsequently graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with Bas in History and English. While in Charlotte, he volunteered as a tour guide for the Levine Museum of the New South and as a Guardian Ad Litem for NC District 26, advocating for children in cases of abuse and neglect in Mecklenburg County. Tom's successes in Charlotte afforded him the opportunity to attend Northeastern University School of Law in Massachusetts where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2013, beginning his law career in the Greater Boston Area as a volunteer and intern before serving as a judicial clerk in the Massachusetts Court of Appeals and District Attorney's office before starting his own practice as a criminal defense attorney.

Tom had a wonderful and rebellious sense of humor, engaging personality and a knack for keeping people on their toes. He never met a stranger and always went out of his way to look out for his fellow men & women. Music was always a large part of his life, belonging to multiple bands throughout the years and never turning down the chance to perform. An Eagle Scout and community leader, Tom had a servant's heart, most recently volunteering with the YMCA in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and with local hospice outreach.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Tom's legacy and life will be held on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 3:00p.m. Eastern Time at First United Methodist Church in Greenville, Michigan, led by Pastor Don Spachman. At the conclusion of the service, the Family will host a light reception to celebrate Tom's life and hear stories from those who knew him in each season of his life.

He is survived by his mother, Judy Carol Maxim, father, Joseph Emory Maxim, and brother, Joseph Byron "J.B." Maxim (wife, Laura) in addition to his niece, nephew, and countless other extended family members.

Our sincere thanks go out to Akhil Garland, Julie Thibault, Justin Hyland and Martin Kolb of Peterborough, as well as Tammy Morrison and Michael DellaMonaca of Fitchburg, Massachusetts and our close friends and family for their assistance and support. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation for those who knew and loved Tom throughout his adventures ranging from hiking over 700 miles on the Appalachian Trail, to serving abroad with his brothers and sisters-in-arms as well as those he fought and advocated for during his time as a Guardian Ad Litem and attorney.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the Greenville Area Community ("GACF") Foundation where the Tom Maxim Memorial Fund will be endowed in his honor. Gifts can be mailed to GACF, 101 N. Lafayette, Greenville, MI 48838 or given on-line at https://gacfmi.org/donation-form/ (search for "Maxim, Tom Memorial Fund" in the list of options.