Thomas W. McComas

Tom McComas, author and independent filmmaker, died on Aug. 8 in Michigan City, Indiana. He was 86.

Tom was born on April 20, 1938, in Rocky River, Ohio, to Elizabeth (McHugh) McComas and Cloral (Charles) McComas. Tom's family moved from Ohio to Wilmette, Illinois, when Tom was 3, and when he was 15 they moved to Lake Forest, Illinois.

Tom attended Loyola High School but transferred in the beginning of his sophomore year to Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland.

Tom was a skilled athlete and played baseball and football in high school. At Georgetown Prep, Tom's record of kicking the longest field goal in the school's history still remains unbroken.

After graduation, Tom studied at Xavier University, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and earned a bachelor's degree in business. The summer after graduation, Tom played Legion Baseball in Chicago. No matter what team Tom played on, he was always the shortstop and also a powerful line drive hitter.

That summer Tom was spotted by a Pittsburgh Pirates scout, and offered a contract to play on one of their farm teams, but Tom chose a different path and joined the United States Marines.

Tom was proud of his military service, and believed those years in the Marine Corp taught him persistence, self-respect and discipline – three qualities that were essential components of Tom's approach to life.

Tom loved movies. After his honorable discharge from the Marines, Tom moved to Hollywood and worked for nine months at Desilu Productions as an assistant director. That was where he decided to become an independent filmmaker, and he moved back to Chicago and began working on "No Game Today," his opus to the Chicago White Sox and a young boy's dream of becoming a major league baseball player.

Tom's film was a success at the Chicago Film Festival, and he began producing television commercials.

Tom understood the wisdom of "find a need and fill it," when one of his clients was short of funds and paid for a commercial with Lionel Trains.

Tom played with trains as a boy, but had no idea what these trains were worth and couldn't find any information on their value. Then the idea took hold to do a book on Lionel Trains. He enlisted his good friend James Tuohy, a well-respected Chicago journalist, and the two of them formed TM Books & Video and began researching and writing what would become a six-volume set, "A Collector's Guide and History to Lionel Trains."

They became respected authorities on Lionel Trains and went on to publish numerous price and rarity guides, and in 1987 they wrote the "Great Toy Train Layouts of America" book that featured Frank Sinatra's layout among others.

Tom's love of filmmaking returned in 1988, when he made the video, "Great Toy Train Layouts of America," and traveled across the country filming the layouts in the book. People Magazine reviewed this show and later selected it as one of the top 10 videos of the year.

During the next 36 years, Tom achieved his dream and became an independent filmmaker. Tom was an auteur, and TM Books & Video was licensed by Lionel Trains, John Deere, CAT, International Harvester, Ford Motor and Boeing to make entertaining and informative special interest videos. Tom also created the popular children's series "I Love Toy Trains."

For more than two decades, Joseph Stachler was Tom's creative partner, and they created outstanding work that was enjoyed by thousands.

TM Books & Video was located on a farm surrounded by Indiana cornfields near the shores of Lake Michigan. Tom would laugh about his commute, which entailed walking from the house to his studio in a renovated barn.

His rush hour consisted of seeing two squirrels and sometimes a rabbit.

Tom loved model trains, baseball, the Chicago White Sox, the Great American Songbook, BMW motorcycles, movies, E.B. White, good writing and his 1972 BMW 3.0 CS Coupe. Loyalty to his family, friends and the beloved BMW Coupe were mainstays of his life.

Tom was quick to laugh, passionate, persistent and his wit was legendary.

In baseball terms, he always kept swinging for the fences.

Tom is survived by his wife, Charyl Lane (Havens) McComas; his former wife, Mary (Laney) McComas; his sons, Thomas William McComas Jr., Christopher Mack (Michelle) McComas and Jeffrey Charles McComas; stepson, John L. (Naz Sanders) Lane; his nephew, Marc (Eva) Devereux (great-niece and -nephew, Sophie and Oliver Devereux); sister-in-law, Kara Wetherby Schmidt; brother-in-law, Heimo Schmidt; and sister-in-law, Debra Havens (nieces, Sophia and Elisabeth). Preceding him in death was his sister, Patricia (McComas) Devereux Tillinghast, passed away in 2020; and nephew, Patrick Devereux, passed away in 2023.

In keeping with Tom's wishes, burial will be private. Condolences may be left at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, otthaverstock.com, or the TM Books & Video Facebook site.

Please make any memorial contributions to the Make A Wish Foundation, wish.org.