Passed away on December 6, 2012 at the age of 87 years old. Tom is survived by his wife of 60 years Nathalie Dutch and 10 children, D’Arcy, Alex, Mary, Martha, Emily, Tad, John, Daniel, Dave and Paul; 17 grandchildren and 1 brother, Frances Dutch of Monongahela, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, John and George. Tom was born on April 24, 1925 in Elizabeth, PA, the 4th son of Mary and Alec Dutch. A first generation American, he, and his 3 brothers all served the Nation in WWII, with Tom serving in the Navy and participating in the Philippine and Okinawa Campaigns. Honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, he used the GI Bill to attend and graduate from California, PA with a degree in education. He moved to East Lansing in 1950 and attended Michigan State University earning a Master’s Degree in Student Personnel. During this time period he was introduced to his wife Nathalie by Father Jerome MacEachin at the Catholic Newman Center. They were married on August 31, 1952. This began a lifelong involvement in MSU activities and the Catholic Community in East Lansing. Tom’s first full-time position at MSU was the first Director of Student Employment. In 1953 he became the Director of Housing in the Placement Office. He spent the 1960’s and early 1970’s in close contact with students as the Manager of Case Hall and then Brody Complex. In 1974 he became the Housing and Food Service Personnel Administrator. He held this position until retirement in 2002, concluding 52 years of service at the University. While at MSU, Tom partnered with the Western Golf Association (WGA) to bring the Evans Scholars Program to MSU. He served as the faculty advisor for the MSU Evans Scholars Program from its inception in 1954 until his retirement. His impact will last for generations and was recognized by the creation of the WGA Thomas A. Dutch Scholarship Fund for MSU Evans Scholars. Tom ran Guest Services for MSU Athletics starting in 1954 and continued after his retirement. In 2002 he was awarded the Jack Breslin Life Achievement Award by MSU. In 2004 he received the MSU Alumni Service Award. He was also a long time member on the board of the MSU Federal Credit Union. An active Member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Tom served in numerous volunteer capacities within the parish. He was active in the MSU Alumni Club of Mid-Michigan, MSU Women’s Sports Booster Club, the University Club and the Anti-Discrimination Judicial Board, the United Way and the Lansing Prostrate Cancer Group. Tom was a loyal husband, devoted father, loving grandfather, an avid gardener and passionate MSU Spartan. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 12, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 955 Alton Rd, East Lansing with Rev. Mark Inglot officiating. Military honors will follow the mass. The family will receive friends at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave, East Lansing, Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7:30 p.m. The family will also receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, Tom requested that donations be made in his name to the “ Evans Scholars Foundation” for the Thomas A. Dutch Scholarship Fund, 1 Briar Road, Golf, IL 60029, which provides a perpetual gift of a full tuition and housing scholarship to the MSU Evans Scholars Chapter; or to St. Thomas Aquinas Church. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com
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