Thomas Hardy Dixon

May 31, 1936 - July 30, 2021

Thomas Hardy Dixon, 85, of Lake Forest, Illinois died July 30, 2021 at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital from complications related to Pneumonia. Mr. Dixon spent over 45 years teaching at Berkshire School, a New England boarding school located in Sheffield, Massachusetts. As an advance placement teacher in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Mr. Dixon educated over 3,000 high school students during his storied career in academia. Mr. Dixon also served as both a Dean and Trustee at the school, and the Bellas Dixon Math and Science Center on the Berkshire School campus pays tribute to his unconditional commitment to continuing education in Math and Science. Mr. Dixon was a 1958 graduate of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He also attended the Lake Forest Country Day School in Lake Forest, IL, and the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT. After his marriage in 1978 to Cynthia White, Mr. Dixon joined the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., for two years where he served as the Science Department Chair. In 1980, the Dixons returned to Berkshire School, where Mr. Dixon became Director of Development, and his wife Cynthia was Coordinator of the school's equestrian program. After spending the 1990-91 school year with his wife at the Sevenoaks School in Kent, England, the two operated Dixon Antiques from their home in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Antiquing was a shared passion during their 33 years of marriage. Mr. Dixon was born to the late Katherine Strawn Dixon and Wesley Moon Dixon of Lake Forest, Il. Mr. Dixon’s mother was the Secretary of the National Republican Committee from 1956 to 1958. His father was the President of the Stone Container Corporation of America, a maker of corrugated boxes in Chicago. His grandfather, Silas Hardy Strawn founded the Chicago based law firm Winston & Strawn. His late wife Cynthia White Dixon died in 2011. His late brothers Wesley M. Dixon, Jr. and Stewart S. Dixon of Lake Forest died in 2014. Mr. Dixon is survived by his two stepbrothers Arthur and Delafield Kribben and his fifteen grand nephews and nieces. A life-long learner, some of Mr. Dixon’s favorite activities included, astronomy, classical music, cooking and digital book publishing. In the last three years Mr. Dixon’s “Tom’s Visions” books were circulated to family members and friends. Each edition included a collection of whimsical photographs that Mr. Dixon produced. Several hundred hours were spent each month creating these books using his Macintosh desktop publishing system. Family always meant the world to Mr. Dixon; and he clearly instilled his love of living life to the fullest and enjoying a multitude of activities and civil service, to each of his wonderful grand nephews and nieces. A private memorial service will be held this Fall. Interment will be private in Sheffield, Massachusetts near Berkshire School. More Information – Reuland & Turnbough Funeral Directors of Lake Forest, 847-234-9649 or www.RTfunerals.com In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Berkshire School in care of the Thomas H. Dixon Memorial Fund, 245 North Undermountain Road, Sheffield, MA 01257.