Thomas Andrew Shortlidge
November 19th, 1943 - January 30th, 2024
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Thomas's Obituary
Thomas Andrew Shortlidge, Award-Winning Creative Director (1943-2024)
Tom Shortlidge, passed away on January 30th, 2024, at home in Lakeside, MI surrounded by his loving family after a year-long battle with cancer.
Tom is survived by his wife Carole Shortlidge, daughter Chelsea (Tony Comer) Shortlidge, son Adam (Irene) Shortlidge, stepdaughter Laura (Bob) Kimball, brother Neil (Renee) Shortlidge, and grandchildren Chase Comer, Emma and Dylan Shortlidge, and Jack and Will Kimball. Tom was always a devoted husband and proud father and grandfather who will be sorely missed.
Tom was born in 1943 in Fort Pierce, FL, to Frazer and Olga Shortlidge. He studied Graphic Design at Kansas University where he was the Art Director of the senior Yearbook and graduated with distinction in 1966.
Tom described himself as a “chameleon of sorts.” On any given day, he could be a writer, designer, painter, or creative director. Tom began his 33 years in advertising at Young & Rubicam Chicago, worked at N.W. Ayer Chicago, and Hackenberg, Normann & Partners, then returned to Young & Rubicam, rising to Executive Vice-President and Executive Creative Director. Tom was responsible for every imaginable kind of product from beer to bologna, contact lenses to hotels. His clients included Adidas, Allied Van Lines, G. Heileman Brewing, Miller Brewing, Pabst Brewing, John Deere, WLS-TV, Wesley-Jessen, the Nature Conservancy, and Sears where he created “The Softer Side of Sears” campaign, re-invigorating the Sears brand. His work received countless advertising and design awards, including several Clios, the Oscars of the advertising community, and he was named to numerous creative “All Star” lists.
Tom’s most widely recognized work is likely the image he helped craft for Crate and Barrel. As a young man, he went to work in the first Crate and Barrel store, and began a decades-long collaboration with the company’s founders Gordon and Carole Segal. During that time, Tom created the famous Crate and Barrel logo and distinctive packaging still in use today, as well as beautifully conceived catalogs and advertising. His work for Crate and Barrel is included in the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
In retirement, Tom brought an all-encompassing, passionate intensity to each of his endeavors: reading, photography, painting, golf, international travel, the design of his home in Lakeside, MI and his home and art studio in Tucson, AZ. Tom started seeing paintings in his dreams. He enrolled in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, taking classes and briefly served on its advisory board while pursuing an active career as an artist. Tom poured himself into drafting a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of Chikaming Country Club where Tom was a member and board officer. He loved writing and never took the task lightly, sometimes taking hours to compose the perfect email to a friend. Tom read profusely covering a wide range of subjects from the histories of great leaders and visionaries, architecture, jazz, and political thought. To each of these endeavors, Tom brought care, respect and his exacting eye for beauty.
Above all, Tom will be remembered as a loving husband and true partner to Carole, proud father, grandfather and friend to so many. We will forever miss his sly humor, quick wit, searching intellect, and the twinkle in his eye.
A memorial will be held in Lakeside, MI at a date to be announced.
Tom Shortlidge, passed away on January 30th, 2024, at home in Lakeside, MI surrounded by his loving family after a year-long battle with cancer.
Tom is survived by his wife Carole Shortlidge, daughter Chelsea (Tony Comer) Shortlidge, son Adam (Irene) Shortlidge, stepdaughter Laura (Bob) Kimball, brother Neil (Renee) Shortlidge, and grandchildren Chase Comer, Emma and Dylan Shortlidge, and Jack and Will Kimball. Tom was always a devoted husband and proud father and grandfather who will be sorely missed.
Tom was born in 1943 in Fort Pierce, FL, to Frazer and Olga Shortlidge. He studied Graphic Design at Kansas University where he was the Art Director of the senior Yearbook and graduated with distinction in 1966.
Tom described himself as a “chameleon of sorts.” On any given day, he could be a writer, designer, painter, or creative director. Tom began his 33 years in advertising at Young & Rubicam Chicago, worked at N.W. Ayer Chicago, and Hackenberg, Normann & Partners, then returned to Young & Rubicam, rising to Executive Vice-President and Executive Creative Director. Tom was responsible for every imaginable kind of product from beer to bologna, contact lenses to hotels. His clients included Adidas, Allied Van Lines, G. Heileman Brewing, Miller Brewing, Pabst Brewing, John Deere, WLS-TV, Wesley-Jessen, the Nature Conservancy, and Sears where he created “The Softer Side of Sears” campaign, re-invigorating the Sears brand. His work received countless advertising and design awards, including several Clios, the Oscars of the advertising community, and he was named to numerous creative “All Star” lists.
Tom’s most widely recognized work is likely the image he helped craft for Crate and Barrel. As a young man, he went to work in the first Crate and Barrel store, and began a decades-long collaboration with the company’s founders Gordon and Carole Segal. During that time, Tom created the famous Crate and Barrel logo and distinctive packaging still in use today, as well as beautifully conceived catalogs and advertising. His work for Crate and Barrel is included in the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
In retirement, Tom brought an all-encompassing, passionate intensity to each of his endeavors: reading, photography, painting, golf, international travel, the design of his home in Lakeside, MI and his home and art studio in Tucson, AZ. Tom started seeing paintings in his dreams. He enrolled in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, taking classes and briefly served on its advisory board while pursuing an active career as an artist. Tom poured himself into drafting a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of Chikaming Country Club where Tom was a member and board officer. He loved writing and never took the task lightly, sometimes taking hours to compose the perfect email to a friend. Tom read profusely covering a wide range of subjects from the histories of great leaders and visionaries, architecture, jazz, and political thought. To each of these endeavors, Tom brought care, respect and his exacting eye for beauty.
Above all, Tom will be remembered as a loving husband and true partner to Carole, proud father, grandfather and friend to so many. We will forever miss his sly humor, quick wit, searching intellect, and the twinkle in his eye.
A memorial will be held in Lakeside, MI at a date to be announced.
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