Folsom Funeral Service

Jack W. Tomion, 92, whose longtime home was Alexandria, Virginia, died of natural causes on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.

Born Feb. 4, 1930, in Fowlerville, Michigan, the third child of Flora and Walt, he was smart, funny, generous to a fault and endlessly curious. He savored books, delighted in conversation, and loved music and the theater. For Jack, time stopped at the dinner table. He was a friend to all he met. No one had a laugh like his. He was also an avid skier into his 80s.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Albion College in 1952 and the University of Michigan School of Law in 1955, he entered the U.S. Navy’s predecessor of the modern Judge Advocate General’s corps. Then he transferred to surface ships and ended up spending a total of 28 years in the Navy, including combat in Vietnam.

He retired in 1983 at the rank of captain. His service included posts aboard the USS Chicago, executive officer of USS Rupertus, and commanding officer of USS Bausell and USS Sacramento. He also spent time traveling the Middle East as an aide to Rear Adm. John “Jason” Maurer, and Adm. William Crowe, who later served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served for many years at the Pentagon in a variety of roles.

During his naval service, he met Nancy Mattison in Saigon, and began a decade-long courtship that culminated in their marriage on Aug. 30, 1969, in Coronado, California. They moved into what they called their “starter home” in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1974, and stayed there – with the brief exception of two years in Washington state – until early 2019, when they moved to a nearby senior community, and later that year to Massachusetts, to be near their daughter and her family.

After his retirement from the Navy, he went into private law and consulting practice. A lover of words, he served for many years as a docent at the Folger Shakespeare Library, where he became the first male chair of the docent board. He also spent hours in cherished and engaging conversation with the Socrates Coffee Group, and working both his muscles and his conversational skills in great company at the Old Town Athletic Club. He spent countless hours enjoying live music, theater, opera and dance performances around the D.C. area and in New York City.

He was predeceased by his parents and siblings and an almost uncountable number of wonderful, lifelong friends. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Nancy, who has since also passed away; his daughter Lesley, grandson and namesake Jack, son-in-law Jeff; his sister-in-law Judy and brother-in-law Dave; brother-in-law Robert and sister-in-law Kathryn; many nieces and nephews; a few grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and a great many friends around the nation, especially in the Washington, D.C., area.

He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 15, 2024. Following the interment, a celebration of his life will be held in the D.C. area.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Folger Shakespeare Library, Signature Theater or the Kennedy Center.

Comments(3)