Thomas Shakeshaft

Thomas “Tom” D. Shakeshaft, 55, passed away on July 19, 2022, at Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, IL. Tom was born on March 27, 1967, in Boulder, CO, to Alston J. “Jerry” Shakeshaft and Emmy H. Shakeshaft. He attended Ames High School in Ames, IA, where he was a three- sport varsity athlete. Tom then went on to Dartmouth College, where he lettered in both football and baseball and graduated with honors in History and Government. He returned to his home state to attend The University of Iowa College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and was initiated into the Order of the Coif. A clerkship with Judge Lay in the 8th Circuit in Minneapolis followed, after which Tom landed in New York at the prominent firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore. After distinguishing himself as a star associate on some of the firm’s most important antitrust cases, Tom moved back to the Midwest as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago. That only lasted a few years, however, as Tom followed his lifetime desire to serve the public good by joining the US Attorney’s office in Chicago, where he spent 11 years working primarily on the prosecution of drug cartels. Despite all of Tom’s academic, athletic, and professional accomplishments, nothing made him prouder than his three beautiful children, Julia, Sadie and Will. They are bright, engaged, and talented in so many ways—just like their dad. He loved sharing with them his passion for history, current events, college football, and, of course, the Cubs. Tom was a fierce intellect, great raconteur, loyal friend and colleague, and doting son and father. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and cared for him.

Tom is survived by his three children; his sister, Kate Murray of Gainesville, FL; and his cousins, Jennifer Christian, Kat Harting, Maggie Moore, and Don Harting. A celebration of life will be held in Chicago on October 8. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Iowa State University Foundation (2505 University Boulevard, Ames, IA 50010 or online) to support the Shakeshaft Memorial Fund.

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