Thomas Dean Clack

Thomas “Dean” Clack, Ph.D., Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychology in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Michigan Medical School passed away peacefully on Saturday July 2, 2011 surrounded by family at Liberty Commons in North Chatham. He was 79.

Dean was the only child of English and Canadian immigrants, Thomas Henry and Gertrude Mary Clack. Born in Akron, OH as his entrepreneurial parents were passing through on a sales trip, he was raised in Brooklyn, NY and Fairfield county Connecticut. He graduated from Lakemont Academy an all boys’ prep school in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York in 1950. His fondest memories include his time as Captain of the Equestrian team. He completed two years at Hobart College before enlisting in the U.S. Army where he trained at Fort Dix before being sent to Korea and assigned to “A” Able Company of the 5th “RCT” Regimental Combat Team. He fought in the battle for Outpost Harry where many lost their lives or were severely wounded.

Returning to civilian life in 1954, Dean continued his education at the University of Connecticut, earning a Bachelors degree, a Masters degree and ultimately a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in 1963. His doctoral dissertation was on Probability Discrimination in Normal and Mentally Retarded Children. It was at UConn that he met his wife Alice (Marconi) Clack. Alice and Dean were married at St. Mary’s Church in Windsor Locks, CT, Alice’s home town. Their only child Diana (Dee Dee) was born while they both completed their advanced degrees at UConn.

In 1964, the family moved to Ann Arbor, MI when Dean accepted a position at the University of Michigan as Assistant Professor of Physiological Acoustics, Kresge Hearing Research Institute, in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. He spent the majority of his career doing research on the ear and hearing. He retired from the University as Associate Professor Emeritus in 1987.

Dean and Alice moved to North Chatham in 1996 and were actively involved in the community. Together they participated in classes at the Eldredge Public Library and the Memoirs Group. They volunteered regularly for First Night activities. Alice was a member of the Town Finance Committee and Dean a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Chatham Retired Men’s Group. Dean enjoyed tennis groups at Mid-Cape in Yarmouth and working out at the Chatham Community Center.

Dean is survived by his wife of 55 years, Alice, his daughter Diana Herbert and Richard Stadtmiller of Franklin, MA, his four grandchildren, Elizabeth, Catherine, Geoffrey and Christopher, as well as many extended family members and friends.

Visiting hours in his memory will be held at the Nickerson Funeral Home,87 Crowell Rd, Chatham from 4-7pm Wednesday July 13th. Memorial service and burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Eldredge Public Library, 564 Main St., Chatham, MA 02633 or the Kresge Hearing Research Institute c/o Donations, 1150 W, Medical Center Dr., Rm 4605, Med Sci II, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.