He was born in Summit, N.J., and attended Summit High School. At Princeton he majored in economics, graduating magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
In 1939, Tom married Marie Jacques of New Haven, Conn. A stint as a YMCA guidance counselor inspired Tom to earn degrees in personnel and business management at Columbia (master’s degree) and MIT (doctorate) while teaching at Clark, Harvard, and later at Rutgers universities. At this time he also started his lifelong career as a labor arbitrator. In 1964, when Tom and his family went to the University of Hawaii on a short assignment, he fell in love with the islands and continued teaching there until 1986, when the Gilsons retired to Bainbridge Island, Wash. But Tom continued arbitrating in Hawaii, Alaska, and the Northeast.
Tom and Marie moved to a retirement home in Carmichael in 1997, and Tom finally gave up tennis. They continued to travel worldwide until his death.
Tom is survived by Marie; a daughter, Muffy Pickel; and a son, Tom Jr.; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Their son Bill died in 2004. To all the family, the class extends sincerest condolences.