October 21, 2004

Obituary: Thomas Willis

Thomas Willis, 76, former School of Music faculty member, died Sept. 23 at Manorcare nursing home in Wilmette.

Mr. Willis, who had a long career as music and arts critic and editor at the Chicago Tribune, taught music history, managed Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and served as executive assistant to the dean at the School of Music.

He began at Northwestern as a part-time visiting lecturer in 1967. He became a full-time faculty member in 1977 when he resigned from the Tribune after a 20-year career there. He later became an associate professor before retiring in 1999.

Mr. Willis wrote the essay for a photo book on the Chicago Symphony, hosted a classical radio program for former Chicago station WEFM-FM and was on the music panel of the National Endowment for the Arts.

A native of Flat Rock, Ill., he graduated from Northwestern with a bachelor of music degree in 1949 and later pursued graduate studies at Yale University. He received a Ph.D. in music history from Northwestern in 1966.

He is survived by his wife, Diane; a son, Christopher; two daughters, Deborah and Claire; two stepsons, Christian and Eric; and his former wife, Millie. A memorial service is being planned for later this fall at Northwestern.