Thomas Francis O'Toole

Thomas Francis O’Toole, of Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2023. He was born on July 2, 1934, in New York City to Catherine and Thomas O’Toole, both immigrants from Ireland. He attended Catholic school in the Bronx and graduated from Regis High School in New York City. He graduated from Fordham University in 1956 and from New York University Law School in 1960, where he was a Law Review Editor and John Norton Pomeroy Scholar. He often shared many fond memories of living right by Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village while attending NYU. Tom was an Army veteran who served in both the active and on reserve duty from 1956 to 1965.

After practicing corporate law for a few years upon graduation, Tom spent the remainder of his career in finance, beginning with Blyth & Co., then became a manager of Dean Witter Reynolds corporate finance department in New York, before moving to Dallas with his family in 1978 to work for the investment banking firm Eppler, Guerin & Turner (EGT). He retired in 1995, after serving for 10 years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Principal Financial Securities, formerly EGT. Tom was instrumental in facilitating the acquisition of EGT by Principal Securities Financial Securities. He served on the board of the Securities Industry Association, on the board of the New York Stock Exchange Regional Firm Advisory Committee and was a director of numerous companies. Tom was an astute businessman of high integrity who freely mentored many people, including young investors and entrepreneurs.

In 1963, Tom married Jane Taylor from Amarillo, Texas. It was love at first sight, and they were engaged after only a few dates. Following their wedding, they went on a tour of Europe, the first of many wonderful trips they would share abroad. They lived together in New York City, prior to moving to Summit, NJ where they raised 3 young children before moving to Dallas, TX. Tom and Jane were married for 59 years, a fun-loving, intelligent, and adventurous pair, they shared many happy times together filled with lots of family and friends. They enjoyed a vacation home together in Santa Fe, NM for over 30 years as well as travelling frequently to New York City.

Tom has a broad range of interests. He was a voracious reader of poetry, fiction, and biography. He loved travelling, art, and classical music. He was wine aficionado and member of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin Burgundy wine club for many years. As a young man, he played basketball and continued to stay fit through his whole life, even starting yoga in his 80s. Tom was a big believer that one of the most important things in life was to give back to one’s community. He was President of both the Dallas Ballet and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and was a past board member, director or trustee of many educational institutions and organizations; including the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) in Dallas; Regis High School in NYC; Rumsey Hall School in CT; the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, TACA, Inc., and Dallas Helps. One of Tom’s most passionate activities was teaching a class for many years at NAMI for family members and friends of individuals with a mental illness. Tom was a family man, a devoted and loving husband and father who was also very close to his parents, two sisters and their children. Tom was very proud of his Irish heritage and always celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, often with a big party at their home. Tom and Jane often attended the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC and marched in it many times.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Catherine O’Toole and sister Mary Ellen O’Toole Antisdel. Tom is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Jane Taylor O’Toole; his children, Thomas Jay O’Toole (Dallas), Michael A. O’Toole (Denver), and Mary Kate O’Toole Mellow and her husband, Jeff Mellow and grandchildren Sam Mellow and Ana Mellow (Montclair NJ); and by his sister Catherine Lauritano.

The family would like to express thanks to Rosa Garcia for her devotion to both Tom and Jane the past several years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to NAMI North Texas, Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas, Catholic Relief Services, or a charity of your choice.

A memorial celebration of Tom’s life will be held at later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the O'Toole family.