Thomas G. Mapp ’58

Thomas G. Mapp ’58, a leader in arts education and administration at the University of Chicago, died on November 11, 2024. Tom was born in New York City and grew up in Stony Brook, Long Island. At Dartmouth he majored in history, was secretary of Tri Kap, and trained with the Army ROTC. He began graduate studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, but later transitioned to Yale University, where he earned an M.F.A. in painting. Tom then served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, stationed in Orleans, France. Working as an artist, Tom explored photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, and performance. He often examined the anthropomorphic qualities of trees, blending humor, irony, and intellectual provocation. He worked at the University of Chicago for 26 years, beginning in 1975, serving as director of Midway Studios in the art history department, which oversaw the M.F.A. program. In an interview with the university’s newspaper, he said, “I think artists have to be very well educated—very well informed.” A faculty colleague said, “His commitment to students and ongoing enthusiasm for their work was inspiring.” During his retirement in Chesterton, Indiana, where he passed away, Tom dedicated himself to photography, capturing countless images of nature in the nearby Indiana Dunes. He is survived by his wife, Jane; a daughter; a son; and two granddaughters.