Thomas Calvin Hazlett

Thomas Calvin Hazlett passed away peacefully on February 20, 2023 in East Lansing at age 95. He was preceded in death by his parents Reverend Calvin H. and Sara Higgens Hazlett, his sister Sara Hazlett Woolever (Bill), and his wife Janice Kibler Hazlett. Tom is survived by his brother Charles (Patricie).

As a cherished Dad, Granddad and Great-Granddad who will be dearly missed, Tom is survived by his sons Kenneth and David (Wendy Squires) Hazlett and his daughter Linda Hazlett Nitzsche, 5 grand children: Kathleen Hazlett (Dennis) Elverman, Daniel Hazlett, Jake Nitzsche, Kyle Nitzsche and Claire Nitzsche, and 2 great grandsons: Jack and Will Elverman.

Tom was born on January 1, 1928 in Allahabad, India of missionary parents. He lived in India and attended Woodstock, an International Boarding School, through high school before coming to the United States.

He earned a degree in Geology at the College of Wooster before serving two years in the US Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, VA after which he received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Degree from Michigan State University.

Following professional practice in a Landscape Architecture firm in Pittsburg, PA and receiving a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois, Tom began his teaching career at the University of Illinois where he taught for 13 years. He then moved to Michigan State University for the final 20 years of his career. He was devoted to his students and enjoyed leading field trips and overseas study programs while serving as Chairman of the Landscape Architecture Program at MSU.

Tom enjoyed woodworking, camping with family and friends, hosting annual Lobster parties, golf, fishing, travel trailering, train travel, cruising and international travel and visiting and making slide presentations of world gardens, US National Parks and Michigan lighthouses. He and Jan enjoyed wintering in Florida during their retirement years before returning to East Lansing to live out the rest of their lives.

Donations in Tom’s memory can be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church.