Tom and wife Marilyn after the Big House game against Missouri in 1969
This month’s alumnus is Tom Fagan. Tom recently passed and this posthumous recognition is just a small addition to the celebration of a great life. Tom’s family has played a great part in Michigan rugby with two Fagan brothers donning the Maize and Blue.
When did you play?
1967 – 70 & 72 (1971 Army Language Institute)
“I went from Dartmouth to U of M Law School in ‘67 for a lack of any better way to avoid the draft. Majored in rock & roll and rugby. Got lucky when a beautiful coed from Kalamazoo who mistook me for someone else and said ‘Hi.’ Marilyn and I got married in ‘69. Uncle Sam caught up to me in ‘71 and sent me to the Language School in Monterey where I learned how to speak Russian while keeping California safe for democracy. We also celebrated the birth of our lovely daughter Beth (Dartmouth ’93). Finally escaped law school in ‘72.”
What is your favorite memory or memories as a member of the club?
According to Tom Raboine, “Tom, Bob Segel, and Max Gail (actor who played Detective Stan “Wojo” Wojciehowicz on the television sitcom Barney Miller) were early three amigos.”
Tom’s team played in the Big House after the Missouri vs. Michigan football game, so they bragged that they played in front of 100,000 people, though not very many stuck around for the rugby.
Did you have any special honors with your time with the club?
None other than being a fantastic team player.
What happened after U of M?
“I went to work as the token Irishman in a Jewish firm in Boston. I thought I’d get both the Jewish and the Gentile holidays off but ended up getting neither. Son Brian was born in ’73 (All American in water polo, power forward in basketball, Stanford ‘96)”
Tom was a partner in Widett, Widett, Slater & Goldman one of Boston’s largest law firms until 1984. While practicing in Boston, he was an Advisor to Harvard’s Trial Advocacy Workshop. Tom moved his family to Honolulu in 1984 and joined O’Connor, Playdon and Guben, one of Hawaii’s oldest and most respected law firms. He had over 35 years of lead counsel experience in a variety of litigation, arbitration and appellate matters, concentrating in commercial, real estate and probate litigation; business counseling and intellectual property.
His essays appeared in several national and local publications, including The National Law Journal, The Hawaii Bar Journal, The Boston Globe, and Pacific Business News, to name a few. He was an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Hawaii Pacific University and a member of HPU’s International Studies Advisory Council. His Hawaii Pacific University students honored him last year: “You guided us on our journey and pointed us in the right direction. We laughed, we loved, we cried. Best of all we learned.”
Tom Fagan was very active in community affairs and he served as President of the Dartmouth Club of Hawaii and the Exchange Club of Bishop Street.
Tom was devoted to his family. He was the son of Tom and Betty Fagan of East Lansing, Michigan. Tom was pre-deceased by his parents and his wife of 42 years Marilyn (Wierman) Fagan. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Hughes (Mike), of Scottsdale, Arizona, and sons Brian (Shiraz), of Del Mar, California, and Tim (Yvonne), of Toluca Lake, California, and three grandsons Colin, Brady and Joe. He leaves behind his siblings Ann, Mary Ellen, Jim, Paul, John and Mike.
An accomplished athlete, Tom played football, basketball and baseball at East Lansing High School for legendary coaches, Roy Kramer & Gus Ganakas. Tom was an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed softball, swimming, tennis, and golf. He loved music and he regularly attended live music performances, and he was an avid international traveler. He enjoyed staying in touch with his friends and he posted regularly on Facebook. Friends remember him as a raconteur with a quick wit, never one to mince words or shy away from a debate.”
Any other interesting stories or info you can provide?
Tom’s younger brother John played rugby for the UMRFC from ‘75 to ‘76. Tom also played football and rugby at Dartmouth. Brophy Field at Dartmouth was donated by his brother-in-law George Brophy in the ‘90s. Tom’s brother Paul lives in Ann Arbor and knows many of the old boys. Tom’s son Tim graduated from Michigan’s School of Art & Design in ‘01 and he played on the Michigan Water Polo Team. A musician, he toured the world with Colbie Caillat. He also wrote a Grammy winning song with Colbie and Jason Mraz.
