Jeff Paul Thomas, 52 years young, passed away Tuesday evening, October 12, 2021, after a formidable battle with pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his daughter Emma, wife Mary, childhood friend Hassan, and steadfast companions Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Charley and Angel. One last time, Jeff shared with them that indelible smile that always greeted his family, friends, colleagues, students, and acquaintances.

Born on July 13, 1969, in Madison, WI, Jeff graduated from James Madison Memorial High School in 1987. He began his college education at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater and graduated with high distinction from University of Michigan in 1991. After college, he led the Financial Analyst group at American Express in Minneapolis, and took the CPA exam scoring first in Minnesota, and in the Top 50 in the US. He went on to attend Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude in 1997. Following law school, Jeff worked in real estate law at Sachnoff and Weaver in Chicago before moving to practice entrepreneurial law at Silicon Valley based Venture Law Group. In 2000, he ventured on his own, creating an early internet company focused on the legal profession, aptly named LeaveLaw.com.

During 2000, Jeff volunteered to teach math to inner city Chicago Youth and a spark would be ignited. Jeff would go onto become an extraordinary teacher, profoundly impacting others by simply teaching the idea we all must seize life and believe in ourselves. Most recently, Jeff taught at Central Michigan University and was Entrepreneurship Chair and MET Program Director from 2016 - 21, earning national rankings for the Master of Entrepreneurial Ventures Program, #9 by Best Colleges and #1 by Study.com. At CMU, Jeff's passion was the New Ventures Competition, where he spread the gospel that it was the implementation of ideas, the doing, that created success. Jeff championed the humble acorn, which signifies that one possesses the knowledge within and its potential to grow into a forest of trees, and CMU created the annual "Acorn Award" in his honor. Jeff was perhaps best known for his unconventional teaching approach, connecting personally with students through books and movies, especially Shoe Dog, Dummies manuals, Office Space, and Startup.com. Jeff worked tirelessly to make CMU not just ranked, but special.

Prior to CMU, Jeff served as the Chair of the Business School at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte and earlier in his multi-faceted career taught accounting, business, law, and entrepreneurship at Belmont Abbey College, Northwestern School of Law, and IIT's Chicago-Kent College of Law. In 2000, Jeff helped pioneer online education, teaching courses over fourteen years at H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Nova Southeastern University.

On a personal level, Jeff only wore Nike shoes. In fact, his MI license plate read ‘Nike'. His love affair with Nike wasn't just about the shoes, of course, something more. It was about an athlete's spirit, the source of athletic achievement comes first from within, and, as an athlete, you teach yourself to override pain and others' expectations. Beyond his love of running, Jeff was a movie guy, and there was always a movie he wanted to recommend to his friends. In his office, he proudly displayed his West Towne Cinemas Employee of the Month certificate which he earned at one of his first high school jobs. Jeff prided himself on being a "Michigan Man." He loved everything Michigan Wolverines, represented by wearing blue & gold whenever he could, and had an encyclopedic level knowledge of all things Blue. Almost nothing could stop him from watching the Wolverines on game day.

What Jeff was most proud of, through all the effort and restlessness, was family - Emma and Mary. Jeff was never more fulfilled than when he watched Emma run track and play volleyball, especially track. Jeff was most assuredly proud of Emma's reaching the national level and Junior Olympics, but he spoke most often of the pre-race strategy talks, conversation on the ride home, and how the difficult races were important. Teaching life lessons of knowing oneself surely, but that forever, special bond from long days at meets he treasured most. As he did so often with his friends and colleagues, he saved the best for Emma, milkshakes, movies, and insightful inspirations.

Most importantly, especially through the suddenness of his cancer, Jeff found peace and happiness at home with Emma and Mary. Jeff would share with those close the incredible strength and courage Mary and Emma provided him through the last days.

In addition to his beloved Mary and Emma, Jeff was survived by his brother Mike Thomas, sister Laurie Thomas and her husband William Garbato and their children, Gabriela and Vincent; stepmother Diana Hicks and step-grandmother Sylvia Hicks; loving in-laws, nieces, and nephew; many uncles, aunts, cousins. Jeff was predeceased by his parents, Rebecca and Keith Thomas.

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