The MacWood family home, on Berwyn, where Tom grew up was only a few houses away from my childhood home.  I remember him and all his brothers and sisters fondly.  What a wonderful family.  I am saddened by the news and will keep your entire family in my prayers during such a difficult time.
Ellen Mackin Mikusa

Dear Pam, Audrey and Ian, you know your husband and father was a very good golf historian/researcher/writer. But I'm not sure you know how good he really was. He presented material important to the game in a way which had not been done before. His work was compelling, singular and done at the highest level of intelligence. It is a body of work that is and will remain among the all time best regarding a sport and a way of life that is very important to many, many people. What he produced is a undoubtedly a reflection of himself as a person. He would have had to have been an exceptional person.
Everybody I know that knew Tom was very fond of him and always remarked on his grace and humor. To do so many things so well is quite rare.
It was a brilliant life and you can be very proud of what he was and what he did.
Best wishes to his family and personal friends,
Chris Buie

Thoughts and prayers go out to you Pam, and your children, Audrey and Ian, and your entire family in this time of sadness. Many, many in the Upper Arlington Class of '76 share your sadness and loss. Heartfelt sympathies.

Shely (Schmidt) McBride Girard

Recently I asked Tom for help in figuring out the history of a club. Not only did he find me enough evidence to “prove” it was one architect, but he also sent me just as many “facts” to prove it was a second architect. Tom never let personal preference get in the way of research and facts. This made him the “best” researcher I have ever worked with. 

I was lucky to begin a multi-decade correspondence with him that began with a simple email in 1999 regarding Jasper Park. We shared research and worked together on figuring out what Stanley Thompson’s real legacy was. I trusted his judgement and valued his friendship.  I will miss Tom greatly.

Ian Andrew
Golf Course Architect ... and fellow researcher

On behalf of Tom's family, we greatly appreciate all of the condolences. Tom was my uncle and godfather. He was an incredible human being and will be greatly missed. Words cannot explain the loss that will be felt now that he has passed.

From another member of the golfclubatlas community, my heartfelt condolences.  My prayers are with your family.

Bart Bradley

Tom was the rare person in our world of golf history who could be called a walking encyclopedia. He seemed to know everything about everything!

He was a great researcher. I think what made him so good was he didn't take conventional wisdom or what "experts" said at face value -- he dug and dug until he got to primary sources. In other words, he thought for himself. He came to his opinions through hard work and because of that they were his, he owned them. And they were meaningful: he stirred the pot more than a few times because not everyone agreed with him all the time, in fact some disagreed, shall we say, strenuously.

That's a contribution in itself: spurring us all to consider or reconsider our own views, getting us to dig up new facts to support or rebut this or that point. If someone disagreed with Tom they knew they'd have to get more facts. You couldn't just "pound the table" as the lawyers say and expect to earn a debating point.

And in that way he directly and *indirectly* increased the wealth of information available to all. It should be noted that while he guarded and defended his opinions, the facts he uncovered to form those opinions he shared graciously.

I consider myself a pretty good researcher but Tom was on another plane altogether. Whenever I got stuck I'd reach out to him. He always came through, even (or especially) on things and people I couldn't believe anyone (else) would know anything about. More than once I thought I'd uncovered something newsworthy, only to discover Tom had found it (and of course shared it) -- usually years before me!

He was a great and prolific contributor and a special member of our community -- I know our loss cannot begin to measure up to yours. Just the same, we will miss him and remember him.

May God bless you and keep you.

-- Mark Bourgeois

As a neighbor and friend to this family for 17 years, we will miss seeing Tom.  It was quite a shock and we are saddened, also, by his sudden loss.  This family was always willing to lend a helping hand and were great neighbors, great friends, and our sons had great memories of being at each other's houses over the years.  We will be there for you--Pam, Audrey and Ian--and may God Bless you and keep you in this time of grief.    The Andorfs

Tom will be greatly missed by his many friends (and fellow golf nuts) on golfclubatlas.com. We are all shocked and saddened by his sudden loss and will remember him fondly.

- George Pazin

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4. May the family and friends of Tom receive an abundance of love, support, and peace during this difficult time.

OBITUARY

Thomas E. MacWood

31 May, 1958 – 12 August, 2012

Schoedinger Midtown

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