Tom’s three art degrees and an honorary doctor of humane letters degree (1968) from Princeton sparked a career as scholar, flamboyant director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (where he changed the face of museums worldwide), instigator of “Hoving’s Happenings” in city parks, arts correspondent for ABC-TV’s 20/20, editor of Connoisseur magazine, author of numerous books (notably Making the Mummies Dance: Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art), and video performer for artnet.com.
He died Dec. 10, 2009, at home in Manhattan. Classmates David Erdman and roommate Jack Middleton remember Tom at Exeter (which expelled him). David recalls unruly summers spent sailing at Martha’s Vineyard, while Jack notes Tom’s early talent for “fake busting” when, as a sophomore, Tom took an art course designed for grad students and was the only one who recognized the professor’s “sculpture” as a hoax.
Tom met his wife, Nancy Bell, at Houseparties, graduated summa cum laude, and returned for his doctorate after serving in the Marines. Condolences to Nancy; their daughter, Petrea; sister Petrea Durand; and three granddaughters.