Thomas Dockweiler, who served on the Homewood District 153 school board for 21 years, died Dec. 19.

Mr. Dockweiler joined the school board in 1986. It was under his guidance that the school board in 2000 made the difficult decision to move away from neighborhood schools and convert to grade centers. 

Longtime District 153 board member Shelly Marks, who served with Mr. Dockweiler, remembers him as “an incredible leader-so empathetic and caring.” She also recalled his patience during very contentious debates on the grade centers issue.

“Tom was very deliberate about making sure the community was heard from. We had board meetings every other week and each meeting addressed a different topic regarding the transition.,” she said. “The meetings were held in the James Hart gym and they were always full-both the bleachers and chairs on the floor.  Anyone who wanted to address the board had that opportunity to do so.”

Willow School became a primary building for pre-kindergarten through second grade, and Churchill School converted to third, fourth and fifth grades.

To meet overcrowding, the district in 2002 split the James Hart building into two schools creating Millennium School for fifth and sixth grades, and Hart for seventh and eighth grades. Once enrollments stabilized, Millennium closed in 2016 after 13 years. Fifth graders moved to Churchill School and sixth graders move to Hart.

He also shepherded the district’s 2006 referendum to raise school funding. It passed with 80% voter approval.

When Mr. Dockweiler stepped off the board in 2007, 12 years as board president, his fellow board members created the Tom Dockweiler Award given to a student from each school who showed outstanding academic improvement. The award marked Mr. Dockweiler’s commitment to “raising the bar” on student achievement.

Mr. Dockweiler, of Homewood, was also active at Faith Lutheran Church. His career included serving as president of the Bank of Homewood and First National Bank of Blue Island, and executive vice president/chief loan officer at Standard Bank.

He served in various capacities for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Blue Island Mainstreet, St. Francis Hospital Charity Board and Foundation and the Homewood and Blue Island Chambers of Commerce.

Mr. Dockweiler and his wife, Karen, were married 56 years. Their family includes children Amy (Jeff), Tom (Christy) and Dave (Sarah), and seven grandchildren. 

A celebration of Mr. Dockweiler’s life will take place at Faith Lutheran Church, 18645 Dixie Highway in Homewood, on Friday, Jan. 2, with visitation from 2 p.m. until the time of service at 3 p.m.