Tom McDaniel

Thomas "Tom" Stephen McDaniel, 86, of Birmingham, Michigan, passed away surrounded by loved ones at Corewell Hospital Royal Oak on November 24, 2025 from complications of Parkinson's Disease. He was born April 16, 1939.

Tom was a loving father and husband; a General Motors executive; a longtime Birmingham city councilman and former mayor; and an animal lover known around town for his impeccable lawn. He is survived by his wife of 37 years Susan (neé Oberst) McDaniel; his five children: Eric (Pamela), David (Andrea), Peter (Janelle), Lisa and Christina; and eight grandchildren: Ryan, Sophia, Raquel, Devin, Daryn, Jin, Miriam and Aaron; as well as his niece and nephews, and friends who adored him.

He was preceded in death by parents Josephine "Odell" (neé Johnson) and James "Stephen" McDaniel; and sister Jane.

Growing up on a tree-lined street in the Birmingham suburbs; he attended Birmingham High (now known as Seaholm), Class of 1957, and continued his education at University of Michigan where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics in 1963.

Tom lived and traveled all over the world. He resided in Japan during his service in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps after he graduated from college.

His nearly 30-year tenure with General Motors-which began in 1966 in the accounting department of the Cadillac Motor Division-culminated with two years in Singapore after he received a promotion to President of GM's Asia Pacific Division (1989). He was responsible for GM's activities in Japan, Korea, China and Southeast Asia. His travels included a trade mission to North Korea. He retired in 1995, trading his immaculate suits and tasseled shoes for a City of Birmingham baseball cap.

Yet, no matter how far he ventured, he always returned home to his beloved Birmingham-where he served on the City Commission from 2003 to 2015, and as Mayor in 2012. During his time on the city council, he played an instrumental role in starting the Birmingham Historical Museum and NEXT Senior Center. He and his wife received a Preservation Award from the city for restoring the historic Erwin farmhouse-the home where they built their life together. In addition to his service to his hometown; he was also a board member of Roeper City and Country School, where his youngest daughter attended, for nearly a decade.

In his retirement; he loved to build dollhouses; mow his lawn in the rain; sit on the couch surrounded by his many cats, flipping channels; and drive in his sports car with the top down while Johnny Cash played on the radio. Above all, he loved to laugh.

Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a service to immediately follow at the A.J. Desmond and Sons Funeral Home in Troy (2600 Crooks Rd.). Memorial donations can be made to the Michigan The Parkinson's Foundation or Almost Home Animal Rescue.

~Lovingly written by family~