Tom Austin ’44 Turns 100—One Year Ahead of Cranbrook

Tom arrived at Cranbrook as a junior in 1942 and quickly earned the respect of his classmates. He became a student-elected prefect, editor in chief of The Crane, and a member of the Cum Laude Society. He also found time for debate, theater, basketball, baseball, and music, playing French horn in a woodwind quintet alongside his brother Rick, a clarinetist.

His school years unfolded against the backdrop of World War II. Students took on maintenance and housekeeping duties as wartime labor shortages affected campus. As newspaper editor, Tom helped keep the community informed, including sharing reports from Cranbrook School in Kent, England, about the war’s effects on students across the Atlantic.

After graduation, Tom pursued his education and built a distinguished career as a CPA, including 38 years with Ernst & Young. He continued consulting well into his 80s while giving generously of his time to civic, church, and Scouting organizations. An Eagle Scout since 1941, he has maintained a lifelong interest in astronomy sparked by earning his Astronomy Merit Badge the year before. History and baseball are also among his enduring interests.

Cranbrook has remained a constant throughout those years. Tom served as president of the Cranbrook Alumni Council in 1958–59 and became his class secretary in his 80s—a responsibility he continues to fulfill faithfully. The father of four Cranbrook Kingswood graduates, he has nurtured a family connection to the school that spans generations.

That connection was especially evident at his 80th reunion in 2024. At commencement, Tom stood proudly when recognized and joined in singing the school hymn. Later, family members representing several graduating classes gathered around him on the Cranbrook Quad to celebrate together.

That visit also led to a friendship with student journalist Joanie Applefield, who interviewed Tom for The Crane Clarion. So taken was she with his stories that she devoted her article to his Cranbrook experiences and wartime memories. Tom, in turn, invited Joanie to take part in a campus scavenger hunt for Tivvie’s Cranbrook Adventure, publishing her responses in the book.

Writing is another of Tom’s pursuits. Under the pen name P. Tawney Phyll—a play on his name, Phillip Thomas Austin—he writes and publishes illustrated books about Tivvie the groundhog’s travels. Tivvie’s Cranbrook adventures take readers to familiar places across campus, including Kingswood, the museums, Cranbrook House, and the Greek Theatre.

For his 100th birthday, today’s Cranbrook community returned some of the warmth Tom has shared with the school. The video greetings connect him with students and educators who share his interests and carry on traditions he knew as a student.

As Tom reflected in an interview surrounding his 80th reunion, “Cranbrook is a stronger influence than you can imagine at the time you’re there.” His own life offers a wonderful illustration of how that connection can endure—and continue to grow.