Tom Heidtke

Profile Updated: August 27, 2020
Residing In: Ann Arbor, MI USA
Spouse/Partner: Jo (wife)
Occupation: Prof - Civil Engineering: Wayne State (Retired)
Children: Alex, born 1989.
Class Year: 1965
Comments:

Arrived in Ann Arbor in 1965 and never left. Finished my B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1970 and suddenly realized I didn't want to be an industrial engineer. Completed my PhD in Water Resources Engineering at UM in 1975. I worked at The Great Lakes Basin Commission in Ann Arbor from 1975 until 1981 while also teaching as an adjunct assistant professor at Michigan. I accepted a faculty position in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Wayne State University in 1981 and remained there until my retirement in 2010. I lived in Ann Arbor the entire time, commuting between Ann Arbor and Detroit for 29 years. My wife Jo had a

School Story:

I had such a great time in high school I barely know where to begin. I remember having my heart broken as a sophomore when Arthur Hill's basketball team suffered its only loss of the season (by 2 points I believe) in the state semi-finals against Adrian. I was at that game with Ken Rabideau and his Dad. I attended every tournament game that year, including a huge win in the regionals at the Flint IMA. I remember Arthur Hill defeated a supposedly invincible team from Grand Rapids South (their star was Lee Lafeyette) just prior to the state semi-finals. When we won that game, I was certain we would go on to win the state title. Craig Dill, Art Gelow, Jim Flora, Keith Kundinger and I think Tim Shoskey were the five starters for Arthur Hill. It was an incredible run throughout the season. It took me a few weeks to get the sick feeling out of my stomach after we lost the semi-final game played in East Lansing. Another memory that sticks out for me is having my lunch attacked each day by my good friends Harry Myers and Paul Minnis. As soon as I brought a sandwich out of my lunchbag in the cafeteria, Minnis' fist would come smashing down on top of it, converting it into something very thin and unrecognizable. Then another hand would quickly grab whatever dessert my mom had packed. No one ever messed with the fruit or the carrot and celery sticks. It sounds strange but we all laughed until we cried. I learned to eat a big breakfast during the week because lunch was always going to be a challenge. Finally, I can still remember playing "barnyard" basketball ... outside ... during the winter on friday and saturday nights at Rick Bruggers' house. There were 8-10 of us, including Chris Martin, Harry Myers, Lloyd Anderson, Tom Mills, Bob Chandler, Tom Miller and a few other names that escape me. No matter how cold the outside temperature, we cleared the driveway of all ice and snow, put on our gloves and hats and multiple layers of clothing, turned on the outside lights, and played for hours. Those were good times.

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Nov
16
Nov 16, 2023 at 8:56 AM

Posted on: Nov 14, 2023 at 11:26 AM

Made it out on Lake Erie this fall (November 5th, 2023). After sitting in a cold fog for 2 hours, the fog lifted and the sun came out. It was a beautiful day and the big perch were biting. The one I'm holding here was over 13". I'm the guy on the right wearing a red hat. Go Blue!

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Nov
09
Nov 09, 2023 at 12:32 PM

Posted on: Nov 07, 2023 at 4:06 PM

Thank you for your service, Hap. And thank you for all the years of friendship. Too many good times to count.

Tom Heidtke has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
Sep
09
Sep 09, 2023 at 6:39 PM

I never had the good fortune to know John as a friend. I knew his name and I'm pretty sure he knew mine. We would smile and say hi whenever our paths crossed at school, but that's as far as it went. We hung in different crowds and there was never an opportunity to develop a real friendship. Nevertheless, John always seemed like superman to me ... strong, smart, handsome, and above all else, thoughtful and kind. That's how I read the tea leaves back then. John Denton just seemed like a special guy, someone who was going to be a big success in life. After reading what's been written here by those who knew him well, it sure seems I was right. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. 

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Jul 04, 2023 at 4:33 AM
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Mar 23, 2018 at 4:53 PM

Posted on: Mar 22, 2018 at 7:08 PM

Tom Heidtke added a photo to his profile gallery.
Mar 22, 2018 at 3:38 PM
Tom Heidtke added a photo to his profile gallery.
Mar 22, 2018 at 3:37 PM
Big walleye caught in the rain and released unharmed up at Lady Evelyn Lake.
Tom Heidtke added a photo to his profile gallery.
Mar 22, 2018 at 3:14 PM
Caught this nice walleye on Lake Erie on December 3rd, 2017. It was a gorgeous day with temperatures in the mid-50s out on the water, light winds, and lots of sunshine. That night the temperatures dropped into the mid-teens and open water fishing was done for another year.
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Mar 22, 2018 at 3:13 PM
The finished design project being tested on the day of the big race. Wayne State placed second in their design report and third in the actual race against other canoes. Thankfully I was not required to be in the canoe during the race. Had that been mandatory, we might have all drowned.
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Posted: Aug 25, 2020 at 8:38 AM
Posted: Aug 25, 2020 at 8:36 AM
Posted: Mar 22, 2018 at 7:08 PM
Posted: Mar 22, 2018 at 3:37 PM
Caught this nice walleye on Lake Erie on December 3rd, 2017. It was a gorgeous day with temperatures in the mid-50s out on the water, light winds, and lots of sunshine. That night the temperatures dropped into the mid-teens and open water fishing was done for another year.
Posted: Mar 22, 2018 at 3:26 PM
The finished design project being tested on the day of the big race. Wayne State placed second in their design report and third in the actual race against other canoes. Thankfully I was not required to be in the canoe during the race. Had that been mandatory, we might have all drowned.
Posted: Mar 22, 2018 at 3:49 PM
Students presenting their final concrete canoe design project at Wayne State University.
Posted: Mar 22, 2018 at 3:48 PM
Me with civil engineering students from my final semester at Wayne State University. I retired in May 2010 ... a few months after this pic was taken. The students were there to race their concrete canoe against those designed and constructed by other student chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Posted: Mar 22, 2018 at 3:38 PM
Posted: Mar 22, 2018 at 3:52 PM
Big walleye caught in the rain and released unharmed up at Lady Evelyn Lake.
Posted: Jul 07, 2015 at 9:16 AM