Thomas Stephen Vaughn

Thomas Stephen Vaughn, age 68 died on May 11, 2024 after a courageous one year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Tom was born June 17, 1955 in Detroit, the son of Joseph and Frances (nee Baker) Vaughn. He was a lifelong resident of the Grosse Pointes, residing in Grosse Pointe Woods for the past 42 years. Tom attended Our Lady Star of the Sea School and Austin Catholic Preparatory School where he made friendships that lasted throughout his life. Tom was a proud graduate of Georgetown University, earning his Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science degrees, both with magna cum laude honors.
Tom had a prestigious 44 year career as an attorney for Dykema, a fixture in the firm's Corporate Finance Group. Described by colleagues as a titan in the metro-Detroit community, Tom's career was marked by unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence. Tom loved the city of Detroit and was long involved with the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Detroit, serving on the board of directors. He proudly accepted the ACG Detroit Lifetime Achievement Award on May 6, 2024. Tom served as a trusted advisor, a strategic thinker, and a beacon of integrity in his field. Tom was consistently listed among the top lawyers in Michigan and America.
Tom was passionately committed to his community, as exemplified by his service to the city of Grosse Pointe Woods since 1983. Tom served as city councilman from 2021 until his death. He enjoyed contributing to his beloved community with his enthusiasm and thoughtful attention to detail.
Tom cherished spending time with those close to him. From backyard games and bike rides to dancing at weddings with Patti, Tom was always ready to have fun. Tom enjoyed being outdoors and was especially drawn to the natural beauty of national parks. He hiked with family at as many of them as he could. A lifelong learner, Tom loved having new experiences with his family and sharing his wealth of knowledge with his children and grandchildren.
Tom's energy and zest for life were unmatched. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 44 years, Patti Krausmann-Vaughn and his four children Catherine (Eric) Vaughn-Gillman, Cecelia (Brian) Forinash, Patrick Vaughn (Jason Kim), and Audrey Vaughn. He was proud to be called "Pampa" by his 6 grandchildren. Tom is also survived by his five siblings Kathie (Gerry) Hickel, Jackie (Paul) O'Boyle, Marybeth (Dick) Grosfield, Jeff (Patty) Vaughn, Jim (Ellen) Vaughn and was loved by many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 19 from 2:00 to 8:00pm at Verheyden Funeral Home, 16300 Mack Ave in Grosse Pointe Park. A funeral mass will held on Monday, May 20 at 10:00am, 9:00am in state, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 467 Fairford Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed HERE. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Grosse Pointe Woods Foundation, The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinsons, or Regina High School.