Dr. Thomas George Gutteridge

Dr. Thomas Gutteridge spent his career building things: a $27 million dollar business school, international academic partnerships, real-world student experiences…but, ask anyone around him, and Tom’s true legacy is a love story: a love of learning, a love of leadership, and most of all, the love of his life, his beloved bride, whom he affectionally called “Jude.”

Dr. Thomas George Gutteridge, PhD, born October 31, 1942, in Flint, Michigan, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2026. He was the devoted husband of Judith Kay Gutteridge, his wife of 61 years; the proud father of Theresa Susanne Dixon (Terry), Deborah Kay Becker (Eric), and Cynthia Marie Breitwieser (Steve); and, Grandpa aka Pa-O and Papa to his nine grandchildren: Nick, Steve, Andrew, Tim (Mia), Abby, Mia, Greysen, Charlotte, and Hudson. Tom is survived by his siblings Phil Gutteridge (Carole), John Fink (Nadiya), and Bonnie Eckenwiler (Bill), and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Ernest Gutteridge (Marie) and Mary Ruth Fink (John), and his brother, Gary Gutteridge.

The family extends our deepest, heartfelt gratitude to the many caregivers, friends, and family that supported Tom (and Judy) throughout his journey. Their profound compassion, endless patience, and gentle care brought dignity to Tom and immense comfort to our family.

A Love of Leadership
“I’ve been a dean at three different universities, and it is always the people I miss most when I leave each place.” Tom spent his career transforming institutions, but it was his passion for people that many will remember most: noticing them, crediting them, and celebrating them.

Tom graduated from Davison High School in 1960, earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from General Motors Institute and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Purdue University. Tom served as Associate Professor of the State University of New York at Buffalo (1970-1983), Dean at Southern Illinois University (1983-1992), Dean and Distinguished Professor of the University of Connecticut School of Business (1992-2002) where he helped elevate the school from regional prominence toward national recognition, including leading the construction of the $27 million School of Business building; and, Dean and Distinguished Professor of the College of Business and Innovation at the University of Toledo where he retired from academic life in 2016 as Dean and Professor Emeritus.

Even with advanced-stage Alzheimer’s Disease, his leadership instinct never left him. During his time in memory care, Tom gathered staff and residents together, certain he ran the place, and asked everyone to join him in a round of applause for the caregivers. It was fundamentally Tom: his memory faded, but his belief in empowering the people around him never did.

A Love of Learning
Always the academic, Tom carried his love of learning to his personal life. He was an avid reader who could always be found with a book in his hand, at home, at the mall, or even quietly reading in the middle of a party. Tom and Judy also shared a love of travel, exploring Europe, China, India, Korea, Egypt, and a South African safari. Tom’s love of adventure spilled over into family trips as well where he would stop at questionable roadside diners, press on for hours without a restroom break, and get lost repeatedly so the girls got to see many things twice. It was Tom’s lifelong appetite for the world around him that turned into unforgettable adventures for the whole family.

A Love for Family
Throughout all of Tom’s professional accomplishments, his wife Judy was always by his side.

A dedicated professional, Tom still found the time to support his daughters’ athletic endeavors, including early morning rides to swim practice, supporting from the stands and mission trips. He relished the small things, with regular visits to Mary Lou’s, his go-to-diner in Carbondale. More than anything, he taught his girls the value of hard work and resilience, lessons that stuck long after the lecture was over.

That same warmth spilled into smaller moments too. He once came home from the pet store with three kittens, not wanting to leave the smallest kitten behind. Around the holidays, he would trade his business suit for a red one, surprising family, friends, and even children in the local hospital as Santa Claus.

Tom used to say, “a dean was only as good as the people who supported him”. By that measure, his greatest achievement wasn’t his PhD. or a first of its kind learning center… it was Jude, at his side for 61 years, the family they built together, and the many lives he touched.

He will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always loved.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 1:00 – 2:00 PM at Geist Christian Church, 8550 Mud Creek Road in Indianapolis, IN 46256.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to https://www.alz.org/indiana