Thomas "Tom" Toon

Age 84, passed away at his home Sunday, March 29, 2026. He was born March 24, 1942 in Ann Arbor, MI, the son of Harry Edward and Maxine Dolores (Koeppen) Toon.

Tom graduated from Dexter High School in 1960. He then went on to Eastern Michigan University for his undergrad in Chemistry. Tom completed his PhD in English from U of M in eighteen months. He was a Professor at the University of Utah for three years. He then became a Professor at the University of Michigan teaching English and Linguistics for 47 years, and held the position of Chair of Linguistics and Chair of Undergraduate Studies several times. He was also on the Committee for the Middle English Dictionary. Tom spent part of each year living and researching in England for nineteen years. He took students from U of M to England several times as part of the summer program. He was a Tibetan Buddhist. Tom enjoyed archeology, cooking, gardening, Sudoku and watching birds on the feeder. Tom was gifted with a high level of intelligence, easy going nature, and was a very kind person. He was a life-long Democrat believing in equality for all and was active in Chelsea's LGBTQ community.

He is survived by his loving husband, Anthony Shakeshaft; three children, Daniel (Rita Kusmayani) Toon of Louisiana, Edward (Tammy) Toon of California, and Nadia (Leon Simms) Boukra of England; grandchildren, Gabrielle Anderson, Theia Toon, and Noella Simms; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Tracy Boukra.

Memorial contributions may be made to Karuna Buddhist Center in Ann Arbor, https://www.karunabuddhistcenter.org/ or Arbor Hospice, https://www.arborhospice.org/. Arrangements were entrusted to Cole Funeral Chapel.