Thomas Joseph Guitteau

1941 - 2025

Thomas Joseph Guitteau

June 15, 1941 - December 20, 2025

Hail Fellow Well Met

God was waiting with open arms for Thomas Joseph Guitteau when he passed on December 20, 2025, at Toledo Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. He was 84.

Tom had a vast network of friends spanning eight decades and several careers as well as a lifelong bond with the University of Toledo, which meant that it was rare for him to be anywhere and not see someone he knew. As a teacher, coach and mentor, he impacted and inspired countless students, athletes and business associates over the years. Tom was a man of great faith who embodied through his many charitable actions his Catholic upbringing. A family member or friend in need would always find a fiercely loyal Tom by their side. He had a keen, curious mind, was a lifelong student of history, loved music of all kinds, had a sharp wit and was known for his unique vocabulary, especially phrases related to golf.

Tom was born on Father's Day, June 15, 1941, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Joseph Taylor Guitteau and Anita Mae Reinhart. Special from the beginning, he was the first grandchild born to both families. When still a child, his family moved to Dearborn, Michigan, where his father worked for Owens-Illinois. Soon after, he was transferred to the company's Toledo office.

Tom attended Ladyfield and St. Agnes Catholic schools and was a member of the first four-year graduating class of St. Francis de Sales High School. He attended the University of Toledo on a football scholarship, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education.

Tom became the first graduate to return to St. Francis de Sales High School as both a teacher and coach. He later taught American history and political science at Rogers High School, where he also served as dean and coached football, basketball, and track.

While teaching, Tom began selling Horace Mann Life Insurance to fellow educators. His success led to an opportunity to work full-time in insurance, where he had the perfect personality to thrive and the integrity and honesty to succeed.

In 1978, Tom joined Savage & Associates. A decade later, he left Savage for the Columbus Life Insurance Company, in Columbus, Ohio where he held a pair of executive management positions and became a Vice-President of Regional Agencies. He returned to Toledo in 2001, working for Creative Financial Partners and Brooks Insurance before retiring. After retirement, he worked at the Heatherdowns Golf Club, managed the Red course at the Whiteford Valley Golf Club and was a courier for ProMedica and Signature Bank.

In 1985, the University of Toledo would again play a part in Tom's life. While serving on the UT Alumni Board he met a fellow-Board member, Lynn Cree. They married in August of 1988, blending two families with six children. It was a happy, fun-filled marriage that lasted 37 years. Tom shined in his role as father to his children and to Lynn's younger brood. He encouraged them, coached them, attended every event, and supported their educational and career endeavors. He later was blessed with 12 grandchildren, whom he treasured.

His life-long connection with the University of Toledo began when as a youth his father took him to football games. While a student there he played offensive and defensive lineman on the team, which served as a starting point for his coaching career. He later spent nearly 20 years as a color analyst on Rocket games alongside Jerry Keil for WSPD-AM. He later hosted coaches' radio shows and provided color commentary on Central Catholic High School football games with Bill Clark for ESPN 100.7 FM "The Ticket."

Tom was deeply committed to service and leadership. At UT, he was an active supporter of the school's Corpus Christi University Parish, where Fr. James Bacik considered him a deacon without the title. Tom served as president of the University of Toledo Alumni Board, president and vice president of the Varsity T Club and was a longtime Rocket Fund and Presidents Club member. He served as an academic mentor for the Rocket's football, softball and golf teams and women's track and field teams.

Tom also served as president of the Cystic Fibrosis Center of Northwest Ohio and treasurer of the Toledo/Wistert chapter of the National Football Foundation.

His lifelong dedication to athletics, education and community was recognized with numerous honors, including the prestigious University of Toledo Blue T Award (2015), the Varsity T Club Distinguished Service Award (2023) and induction into the St. Francis de Sales, Toledo City League and the Toledo/Wistert chapter of the National Football Foundation Halls of Fame.

Tom sometimes lamented he never became a college football coach, but, looking back, the man checked every box in the Life Well-Lived handbook.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; uncles, Thomas Guitteau and Donald Reinhart; and aunt, Margaret (Guitteau) Severin.

Surviving are his wife, Lynn (Beckett) Guitteau; sister, Linda (Dick) Judson; children, Tim (Vicky Petrouneas) Guitteau, Amy (Chris) Cain, Dan (Kelley) Guitteau, Alexandria (William Randle) Cree, Nicholas (Ei Ei Moe) Cree and Eric Cree; grandchildren, Merrina Guitteau, Mackenzie (Jacob) Riley, Max Guitteau, Jack, Nick, and Kiki Cain, Tess (Tanner) Kallus, Sam (Olivia) Guitteau, Jake Guitteau, Áine Randle, Gabriel Cree and Elyon Cree; nieces, Rebecca Buckman, Julie (Jerry) Aponte; and nephew, Rick (Melissa) Judson; cousins, John (Laura) Guitteau, Marcia (Mike) McGee and Barb Powers; sister-in-law, Debra (Craig) Barrow; and godchildren, Chris Barrow and Marcus Nicolaidis.

Visitation will be at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43623, on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 2:00-8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass with Fr. Dave Nuss officiating will be at Christ the King Church, 4100 Harvest Lane, Toledo, Ohio 43623, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be at Toledo Memorial Park. The mass will be live streamed.

The family suggests contributions to the University of Toledo Athletic Department or St. Francis de Sales School.

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