Thomas J. Murdock ’91

Tom — a brilliant poet, musician, teacher, and innovator of the online-learning platform Moodle — died Nov. 2, 2018, of a heart attack while on a business trip to Denver.

Tom came to us from Interlochen (Mich.) Arts Academy, where he grew up as the child of faculty members. He majored in English at Princeton and taught at the Cranbrook Schools in Michigan and St. Paul’s School in Baltimore. His colleagues described him as sweet, funny, brilliant, warm, kind, generous, humble, and a teacher’s teacher. He was respected for always being on the cutting edge of pedagogy, yet exuding warmth and kindness that drew people to him.

Tom loved to hike and traveled to Australia and India. With his wife, Faith Shearin, and their daughter, Mavis, they explored Cape Cod, the Appalachian Trail, and the crypts of London. His life was celebrated in the chapel at Interlochen Arts Academy with a combination memorial service and Irish wake, at which his poetry was read and his favorite music played.

Tom is survived by Faith, Mavis, mother Carol, two sisters, a brother-in-law, and two nieces. We are grateful for having known Tom and send our deepest condolences to his family.