Thomas Dana Shakeshaft ’89

Thomas Dana Shakeshaft ’89 passed away on July 19 at Rush Oak Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. Tom was born March 27, 1967, and attended Ames High School, where he was a three-sport varsity athlete. At Dartmouth Tom was on the varsity football and baseball teams and graduated with honors in history and government. He was also a stalwart member of Beta Theta Pi. Tom graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law and after working in several prominent law firms, joined the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago, where he coordinated the U.S. government’s efforts to prosecute Mexican drug cartels. During 11 years Tom brought down drug dealers by the score, including the arrest, extradition, and conviction of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Because of Tom’s efforts, all of us are a lot safer. Tom was very proud of a September/October 2020 piece in DAM and hoped that his honesty would be helpful to others. Tom was a fierce intellect, great raconteur, devoutly loyal friend and colleague, doting son, and even more doting father. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and cared for him. Tom is survived by children Julia, Sadie, and Will; sister Kate; and cousins Jennifer, Kat, Maggie, and Don. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50010, to support the Shakeshaft Memorial Fund.