Thomas Michael Tweel passed away Saturday, June 27, 2026, on his way home from what surely was a perfect game of golf. A beloved dad, cherished Jiddo, devoted friend, adored brother, loved uncle, Tom was the embodiment of living a life of love. He was born on April 4, 1938, to Mary and Leonard Tweel, Lebanese immigrants. He grew up in Huntington, WV, the oldest of 4 children. Tom excelled at sports, won national awards shooting marbles, starred in all the high school musicals (a Lebanese Frank Santara, according to him). Graced with a beautiful tenor voice, Tom was a member of the Expressers Quartet, the 50’s equivalent of One Direction. He attended Marshall University, where, after a few mediocre years, he left college to pursue his dream of a musical career, even cutting a couple albums (self-funded, loved by family far and wide, but never beyond). Tom always said, if only he hadn’t lost his hair, he would have a star on the Walk of Fame.
Tom returned to and graduated from Marshall and moved to DC, where he met Meredith Ann Adams. They married in 1965 and from there, Tom attended George Washington Law School. Tom and Meredith had three children, Tracy Adams, Jonathan Michael and Allison. Tracy lived only a brief 20 months after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Tracy’s life and death forever changed Tom. In 1983, Tom moved the family from DC to Memphis and began volunteering at St. Jude. In the early 90’s, Tom helped to found the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis, which, other than his family, was Tom’s proudest accomplishment.
Tom was an estate planning attorney for 30 years, retiring from Apperson Crump. Tom could always be found either on the golf course or tennis court, or on the side-lines cheering on his grandkids. He loved every Sunday family dinner with his kids, grandkids and friends who were like family. He recently moved into Opus, where he crowned himself the Social Chair and met his dear friend Barbara. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Meredith, and daughter, Tracy. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his son Jonathan (Tricia) Tweel; his daughter Allison (Greg) Gilbert; his sisters Betty Rahal (Kamal), Judy Prater and Sahndra Starnes (Eric); and, the ones he loved most of all, his grandchildren, Charles Adams Gilbert, Mary Grove Gilbert, Stella Christian Tweel and Shari Jones, and great-grandchild, Robbie Jones. Tom’s celebration of life will be held July 20th at 10:30 a.m. at Germantown Presbyterian Church with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to Ronald McDonald House of Memphis or Germantown Presbyterian Church.
