Thomas C. Grubb Jr., age 81, passed away on December 17, 2025.
Thomas (Tom) was born on October 14, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Thomas and Louise Grubb. He was a devoted husband to Jill Grubb of Gambier for 57 years.
An avid outdoorsman, Tom found great joy in fly fishing, wood-carving, and being alone in the woods. As a Professor of Biology at Ohio State, Tom was always in the winter woods, directing a large lab of graduate students funded by the National Science Foundation and holding positions at Oxford University’s Edward Grey Institute and University of Tokyo. He had a curious mind and was constantly coming up with inventive ideas: plastic trees, ptilochronology and corridor ecology among his best known.
Tom was in constant motion, more than doubling the size of his house by himself as his family grew and enjoying the tasks of rural life: cutting firewood, planting trees, and caring for pheasants, chickens, dogs, and cats. He visited elderly neighbors on Sunday mornings, worked for the zoning commission and was one of Morrow County’s first Parks Commissioners.
In retirement, Thomas volunteered his time in various ways: cleaning two miles of highway in the Rocky Mountains, serving meals to the homeless, and reading books and newspapers for the blind.
A gifted athlete in his younger years, Tom holds the record for most goals scored in a soccer game (6) at Swarthmore College—an achievement of which he was immensely proud.
Above all else, Tom cherished his family. He was their greatest supporter, faithfully attending everything from sporting events to local theater performances (including acting with them in musicals with Mt. Vernon Players), and traveling to see his children perform in college and beyond.
In addition to his beloved wife Jill, Thomas is survived by his sons, Josh (Colene) Grubb Robinson and Benjamin (Abby Enscoe) Robinson Grubb; his daughter, Libby Grubb; his grandchildren, Fiona Robinson, Aidan Robinson, Finnegan Debney, Kai Grubb Enscoe, and Max Robinson Enscoe; his brother, Gary (Barb) Grubb; and his sister, Linda (Don) Woodworth.
The family has requested that any memorial contributions be made to Covenant House in Thomas’s honor. A private celebration of life will be held by the family at a later time.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Homes
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com