Tom Dooley died September 2, 2026, the day before the 4th anniversary of his marriage to Marjean Tjoelker whom he met at Breton Woods Holland Home. They shared a full and active life together, enjoying cottage time, attending lectures, gardening, and biking. and especially interacting with friends through community and church life.

Tom is survived by his wife, Marjean Tjoelker Dooley, children Douglas Dooley, Michael (Sarah) Dooley and Rachel Dooley (Daniel Koevary) and grandchildren Declan, Emerson and Lochlan Dooley, and Alexander and Layla Koevary. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Eid, sister-in-law, Kathy Dooley, Anne Hagen, the mother of his children, Marjean’s children and grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, William and Kathleen (Kelley) Dooley, his brothers Michael and William Dooley, and sister, Mary Newcomb.

Born in West Bend, WI, Tom attended Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, WI. He joined the Jesuits in 1958 and graduated from St. Louis University. He also earned an M.A. in Sociology from Marquette University and an M.S. in Computer Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Tom spent a number of years teaching on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota where he met and married Anne Hagen. They moved to Milwaukee where Tom worked for the United Way. In 1977 he was recruited by Aquinas College, Grand Rapids MI to create a computer major program, serving the college as a professor for almost forty years.

Tom’s passions included pottery-making, poetry, Shakespearean theater, and golf. For decades he played weekly rounds with the “Golf Buds” who were fellow Aquinas professors and lifelong friends. He loved languages, especially Latin, French and Lakota, and was always ready to conjugate English verbs for those unsure of correct usage. He was involved in refugee resettlement efforts, zealously supporting Congolese and Afghani families new to the country.

He served on the Network 180 board and for many years was an active member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

A Celebration of Tom’s life will take place at Third Reformed Church, 2060 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday, September 12, 11 am. Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 a.m., prior to the service. May he rest in peace.

Those wishing to honor Tom’s life with a donation may consider NAMI West Michigan (P.O. Box 3503 Grand Rapids MI 49503 or on-line namiwestmi.org) or the Third Reformed Church Refugee Fund (2060 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI).