Obituary of Dr. Thomas Keith Meier

Retired President of Elmira College, passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at age 76. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate and intercollegiate athlete at the University of Texas at Austin, he was a First Lieutenant US Army. An outstanding advocate for higher education, he received an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University in English Literature and Masters of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School. While serving as an executive with Exxon, he taught night classes at nearby colleges and wrote dozens of articles and published a book on Daniel Defoe. He went on to become President of Castleton State College in Vermont for eight years, and then accepted the presidency of Elmira College in 1987. He thoroughly enjoyed his years at EC with a special affinity for students and the educational process. Tom loved life, his family, Elmira College, the Boy Scouts, God, and his country. He lived life to the absolute fullest. (His favorite saying was: “If it is worth doing, it is worth overdoing!”) And he reached out in every direction. If he became involved in an activity, he worked his absolute hardest to ensure that organization’s success. His dedication and hard work resulted in numerous recognitions: he was an Eagle Scout, he served as President of the Five Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America being selected to receive the Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen award, as well as the Silver Beaver and the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He was awarded the highest civilian honor, the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, for his support of US Army ROTC at Elmira College. He was President of Elmira City Club, Chairman of the Chemung County United Way Board of Directors, board member of Notre Dame High School, Arnot Art Museum, Chemung Canal Trust Co., Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier Economic Growth. Tom loved people, his sports cars, the Boy Scouts, hunting (just got a 22 point buck two weeks ago!), skiing (even last winter), reading and talking politics, going to breakfast every day with friends, working with different non-profit organizations, and telling old stories, and laughing and laughing. He will be greatly missed. Tom is survived by his beloved family, his wife Mila, and sons and beloved daughters-in-law, John and Christine Meier, with children, Madeleine, Alexandra, and Gavin; and Keith and Susan Meier, with daughters, Olivia, Katherine, and Abigail. He is also survived by his brother Donald Keith St. Martin of Austin, TX; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Cathy and John Adams of North Zulch, TX,; nephews and niece with their families, Ryan and Brenda Adams of Somerville, MA with children, Eleanor and Dorian; Vincent and Renata Adams of Norfolk, VA with son Ian; Katherine and Jason Klug of North Zulch, TX. Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Friday, December 2, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Burial Office will be offered at Grace Episcopal Church, 375 W. Church Street, Elmira, on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Military honors will be accorded outside the church at the conclusion of the service. Committal prayers and interment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery. Rest in Peace, Tom. Heaven just got a lot more fun!