Thomas Lee Morin

Date of Death: February 25, 2020

Professor Thomas Lee Morin
Tom Morin, of West Lafayette, Indiana, passed away on February 25, 2020. His 76 years on this earth were extraordinary.
Tom met the love of his life, Susan, in 1962, while studying civil engineering at Rutgers University (where he was the best dancer in his fraternity), and they have been inseparable in the 58 years since. After getting married in 1965, Tom got his master’s degree from the University of New Mexico (while literally blowing things up in Los Alamos), and his PhD in Operations Research from Case Western Reserve, on a full NASA scholarship. Just before leaving Cleveland to become a professor at Northwestern in 1970, Tom and Susan gave birth to their first child, Michael. His second (and “favorite”) child Marisa arrived a full decade later.
After a four-year stint at Northwestern, Tom accepted a position as a professor of industrial engineering at Purdue, where he remained for the next 45 years. He loved everything about being a professor, from his great pride for Purdue and the department, to his prestigious Fulbright scholarship, to winning the “Noble” Prize (just a letter away from greatness). But he especially loved teaching his students. And they loved him too – his online reviews range from “Love him as a professor. He is so enthusiastic in teaching and always helpful when you need” to “Nicest guy ever” to “He is so cute.” Tom was born to be a professor and was literally teaching right up until the very end.
Tom also had a great zest for life. He and Suzi spent their lives traveling the world together, from driving in the Sahara in a car with no air conditioning, to their annual trips to the Greek Isles (at his beloved Hotel Zeus), to their frequent trips to Las Vegas, where he would outlast the staff at the casino buffet with his legendary appetite. He loved spy novels, music (especially Miles Davis and John Coltrane), TV (he saw every episode from every version of Law and Order), cars (he was likely the only 70+ year old owner of a Type R in the country), and food (especially coffee ice cream). But most of all, he loved his family. Tom’s 58-year love affair with Suzi was the defining aspect of his life. And he was completely devoted not only to their children Michael and Marisa, but also to their wonderful spouses Emily and Chris, and to their four grandkids Andrew, Gaby, Charlie, and Kennedy, who he loved with all his heart. Tom was one of the kindest souls you will ever meet; he will be missed but never forgotten.
Tom did not want a formal funeral service. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the children’s charity of your choice.

Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc.

Tim Lowe

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Yes, it is sad that Tom left too early. He was a great professor and friend to many. Gordy Hazen's story is correct. To add more details, it was during the Iranian hostage crisis during Jimmy Carter's administration. Suddenly, no temporary Iranians could work. Farhad Azadivar was a finishing IE PhD student who was scheduled to teach I think 4 sections that summer. Suddenly he was fired. (He did need the $$.) So Tom was asked to teach one of the last-minute, suddenly uncovered sections. When we told him, he rocked from foot to foot sideways, protesting. Tom finally accepted the decision.

I only just heard about Tom’s death three years late. Harold, good to see your voice again on these pages! I was also one of Tom’s graduate students. I got my Ph.D. under his supervision in 1980, and have taught at Northwestern ever since, retiring to Emeritus in 2015. Suzy, you may not remember me, but I visited your home with other graduate students, and perhaps met you in Tom’s office or at conferences. I always thought you were gracious and welcoming – Tom was fortunate to have a wife like you and I think he realized that. This loss must have been hard. I agree with Harold that Tom was a was a funny, witty, charming, gregarious guy. He had irreverent joie de vivre, but his laugh was always *with* you, never at you. In my years, he loved traveling to conferences, where he could visit and party with colleagues from across the country. There is a story that Bruce Schmeiser told me that is somewhat at Tom’s expense, but I think he laughed at himself when all was said and done. It seems that Tom was away and did not attend the first faculty meeting of the year, when a teaching spot needed to be filled for a course that was just starting. Because Tom was not at the faculty meeting, he was voted the job. When he returned, Bruce and grad student Kathy Stecke broke the news to him, and watched as Tom went through the five stages of grief! Denial: “They can’t make me do this!” Anger: “I’m going to get them for this!” Bargaining: “Wait – Maybe there’s a way out of this.” Depression: “I guess I’m stuck with this.” Acceptance: “All right, I’ll just make the best of this.” This was all part of the witty camaraderie that surrounded us in my years studying with Tom.

Marisa and I met Tom and Suzi in 1968 when Tom and Marisa were grad students at Case. I fondly remember the many wonderful times we had together. My love to Suzi, Michael and Marisa.

It's been years, but Professor (Tom) Morin was my role model for becoming a professor. He was my Phd advisor in the early 1970's until he left Northwestern University. I stayed on there and finished my dissertation in 1975 (officially in 1976). Before asking Tom if he would consider being my PhD advisor, I had had him as my teacher in a stochastic processes class. It was there I discovered his energy. He was brilliant but tough on us because it was hard to match his level of comprehension of mathematics and stochastic processes. I remember Markov processes the best from his class. His method of making the material clear was unrivaled. Later, I came to his office to ask if he'd consider being my Phd advisor. You may think I asked him this because he and I were both interested in the same subfields of operations research. This is not the case. I chose him for his awesome personality. He was funny, full of enthusiasm, supportive, open, lively and always seemed very happy. I chose him because I thought I'd be most comfortable with him of all the professors in the IE/MS Department at the time at Northwestern. I was lucky he agreed to advise me. Tom was my role model for accomplishing research and being a professor. I remember him telling me: "Never try to do research unless you know it is in a publishable area in a top-tier journal." I later always remembered that. He also told me, "Your teaching, you want to get that done with so you'll have time for research.". I remembered that as well. I remember going to an ORSA/TIMS conference. Tom was there too. We were in Las Vegas. Maybe mid-770's. We hung out a bit, but I wasn't a gambler. So I missed his acumen and interest in gambling! I remember being in a lounge at some hotel and seeing Muhammed Ali among the audience. I think Tom was there. I actually got Ali's autograph! I should've also gotten Tom's as well! When it was time to teach in my first full-time professor job, I remembered the two things that Tom had told me. I was at (and now I'm Emeritus at) the U. of Florida. I think Tom was a little bewildered that I'd go down there after living and growing up in the Midwest. Well, when I got there, I found out that getting my teaching out of the way was not so easy. But I worked hard at doing that in a quality way, as well as my research. I almost NEVER worked on any research topic that I felt would not be publishable in a very good-to-top tier journal. I didn't always succeed at coming up with results that were top-tier. But most of the time I succeeded, and I had a quite successful research and teaching career. I remember Suzi coming to Tom's office one time when I was in the office as well. So Tom introduced me to Suzi one time. I'll never forget that. I MAY have been the first PhD student that Tom advised.....I am not sure. Tom did the ultra-amazing thing: He was a funny, witty, charming, gregarious guy, he accomplished deep research, he mentored me just the way I needed it, AND he put his priorities right: On wife and family. I live with his inspiring mind, friendliness, humanity, humor and kindness as role models for me to this day. I'm 70 years old now, retired, in Gainesville, FL. I hope Suzi and her family can get a bit of peace, eventually. This is all from my heart, straight up, no revisions or attempt to improve my writing style or grammar. Just straight from the heart. I can only wish you peace, and I know you will find it. Sincerely, Harold P. Benson Now Prof. Emeritus University of Florida Gainesville, FL

Tom was a great person, upbeat and full of life. He was loved by his students and coworkers. I enjoyed working with him very much. May he rest in peace.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Dear Susan, Michael, and Marisa: I am so sorry to learn of Tom's passing. I have good memories of the Morins and the Lowes belonging to the gourmet club when Marsha and I first moved to West Lafayette. We always had a great time celebrating life at Purdue and the fine food prepared by us all. Of course I had lots of professional interactions with Tom, including being a student in his dynamic programming course at Northwestern. Tom will be missed by us all.

You could ask him a technical question, and he could always help you.

Susan, We are saddened to hear of Tom's passing. We always enjoyed him when he came in. Tom always had interesting stories to tell. Thinking of you in your time of loss. The Dentists and Staff of Tecumseh Dental Center

Susan and Family, So sorry to hear of Tom's passing. He was always a joy to work with on car matters and loved to talk about most anything! I still have the Sting's greatest hits cd from years back. May he rest in peace and prayers for you and yours as you journey onward!

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.