Thomas Crooks, Former Administrator, Dies at 81

Thomas E. Crooks, 81, a former master of Dudley House, a Faculty of Arts and Sciences administrator, and early mentor to "nontraditional" students at the College, died Sept. 16 in Brewster, Mass.

Born in Seminole, Pa., Crooks worked as a factory laborer and manager before enlisting in the Army infantry in 1941. He served in the Italian campaign and, for a year, was a prisoner of war.

He graduated from Harvard magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1949 and received an M.P.A. from the Graduate School of Public Administration (now the Kennedy School) in 1952. He was named an assistant dean of the Harvard College shortly after graduation and spent most of his career at Harvard. His positions in the University included director of the Office of Student Placement, director of the Summer School of Arts and Sciences and of Education; dean of special students; master of Dudley House; and special assistant to the dean of the faculty. In that capacity he served as director of the Harvard-Radcliffe Parents Association, secretary of the Committee on the Administration of Educational Policy, and supervisor of the Faculty's affirmative action program.

He also advocated opening Harvard to a more diverse group of students. Starting in the 1950s, Crooks worked to help minority students gain access to higher education and, according to John Fox, secretary of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, "helped commuter students and, later, disabled students to feel full citizens of the College."

Michael Shinagel, Dean of Continuing Education and University Extension, said, "Tom Crooks gave me my first administrative job, as assistant director of the Student Placement Office, in 1959, and we remained friends and colleagues since then. He always exhibited an exemplary loyalty to Harvard and a dedication to students, especially those on the margin. He truly made a difference in the lives of many people."

Crooks also worked to broaden the artistic opportunities available at the University. As director of the Summer School, he helped establish dance, orchestra, and chamber music programs and encouraged Director of Bands Thomas Everett to form the Harvard Summer Pops Band, now in its 27th year.

He leaves two sons, two daughters, two stepsons, nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.