John Mark Thomas

John Mark Thomas (known as Mark to his family and John to his professional colleagues), 73, passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2025. Mark passed peacefully and quietly, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born May 12, 1952, in Meadville, PA, the son of the late Judge F. Joseph Thomas and Adele Ann “Jinx” Thomas. Mark attended Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, NJ, and obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating magna cum laude, Order of the Coif. One of Mark’s favorite memories was being sworn into the Pennsylvania Bar by his father.

In 1979, Mark and his wife, Marie, moved to Michigan with their newborn daughter Erin, and he began his career as an in-house attorney with Ford Motor Company. For many years he headed Ford’s appellate practice, writing briefs and presenting arguments throughout the U.S. on cutting-edge issues in product liability, class actions, and other complex litigation. He expanded this role to encompass legal strategy and motion practice at the trial level. Throughout his time with Ford he supervised much of the company’s significant class action and complex litigation matters and developed innovative programs to integrate legal scholarship with successful trial strategy.

After nearly 30 years with Ford, he joined the firm of Bryan Cave and later Dykema Gossett, where he practiced for almost 15 years and served as the head of Dykema’s class action team. He and his team received numerous accolades, and under his tenure, Dykema was recognized nationally among top firms in consumer class actions. In recent years, he was named a Nationwide Leading Lawyer by Chambers USA and recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a Key Lawyer and a Hall of Fame Lawyer.

One of John Mark’s passions was working with the Product Liability Advisory Council, of which he was a founding member and former chair, and served as Chair of the Case Selection Committee for the past 10 years. Throughout his career, he was a role model and mentor to numerous lawyers who credit him with inspiring them and honing their strategic, analytical, and writing skills.

In addition to his parents, Mark was preceded in death by his sisters Marilyn Thomas Bollenbacher and Carol Thomas Sullivan, and his brother Jim Thomas. Mark is much missed by his wife, Marie Roberts Thomas; his daughter Erin Thomas and her daughter Madeline Thomas-Higgins, and Erin’s husband Tony Greco; and Mark's son Brian Thomas and Brian’s partner Jennifer Truxell and children Nolan Morrisette and Sofia Smith, all of Livonia, MI. He also leaves two sisters, Susan Thomas and her husband Dick Schaefer of Erie, PA, and Mary Thomas and Mike Doll of Bayonne, NJ, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Besides his passion for the law, Mark loved traveling and was fortunate to be able to have many adventures around the world. He loved hiking down mountains and in the woods with his dog Scout, boating, reading, going to the movies, and making reservations for dinner with his family and friends. As a private pilot he felt humbled to be able to help others by providing humanitarian flights through the Angel Flights and Lifeline Pilots programs. He loved his home and friends on Marco Island, and nothing made him happier than taking the boat out on the Gulf for a Marco Island sunset.

On January 10, 2026, we will welcome friends and family at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 3700 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48152, for visitation from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life Service from 3–4 p.m.

In honor of Mark, the family invites memorial contributions to Hermelin Brain Tumor Center.