Thomas Rollin

Thomas Richard Rollin 

December 22, 1941- May 14, 2026

Tom Rollin spent his whole life chasing the next adventure — whether that meant hopping a freight train as a kid, driving an hour for ice cream, or pointing the car toward a national park with no real plan beyond "let's see where this goes." He passed away on May 14, 2026, at 84 years old, leaving behind a lifetime of stories that his family will be telling for years to come.

Tom was born on December 22, 1941, in Plymouth, Michigan — a place he would spend a lifetime talking about in almost magical terms. Plymouth wasn't just a hometown; it was the backdrop for a boyhood that seemed tailor-made for adventure.

Known as "Tommy" to family and friends, he rode his bike everywhere and ran a paper route that funded his favorite Saturday tradition: an afternoon at the Penn Theatre, where he fell in love with sci-fi films, B-grade monster movies, and musicals. Those Saturday matinees sparked a lifelong passion for movie trivia that never faded. Trains held an equal fascination — Tom spent countless hours at the local railroad yard and roundhouse watching them come and go, and once even talked a conductor into letting him hop aboard. Through all of it, his dog Ranger was right by his side, the perfect co-pilot for whatever the weekend had in store. Tom was the youngest of three children — Jim, Janet, and Tom — raised by parents Boyd and Francis Rollin.

Tom graduated from Plymouth High School in 1959, where he was a member of the school band. He also discovered a natural talent for bowling and pool — good enough to win a little money off both, and sometimes enough to get him into a little trouble. Cars became another lifelong love. He was a proud member of Power, Inc., a car club based in Wayne, Michigan, and once drove his beloved 1964 GTO straight onto the soundstage of Detroit's "Swinging Time" TV show.

In December 1965, Tom met Judi Kathryn Rose. By their second date, he was already telling her they would be married someday — and he was right. They married on October 22, 1966, and built a life together that would span nearly 60 years. They raised two daughters, Kristen and Jamin, first in Westland, Michigan, before putting down roots in Howell, Michigan in the mid-1970s, where they would stay for more than 45 years.

Tom brought his love of "bad movies" into fatherhood with great enthusiasm. He was famous for waking his girls up late at night to watch his favorite creature features, and equally famous for arriving home from work with a spontaneous announcement: they were going on a road trip. Suitcases would be packed within the hour, destination chosen on the spot — whichever direction looked most interesting.

Those impromptu adventures became a beloved family tradition. Tom and Judi — and later the whole family — chased the open road across the country. They traveled the East Coast from Maine to Washington, D.C., explored the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, wound through the Midwest, and ventured out to the National Parks of the West. For Tom, no reason to drive was ever too small. A 45-minute trip for ice cream on a quiet afternoon counted as a perfect outing.

In Howell, the Rollin home became a neighborhood legend every Halloween. For nearly 30 years, Tom took great pride in handing out unusual and memorable treats to trick-or-treaters — sometimes numbering in the hundreds. While Tom worked the door, Judi spent hours transforming their yard into a fall wonderland. The tradition took on a life of its own over the years, with grown trick-or-treaters returning to bring their own children — and eventually grandchildren — so they could experience the Rollin house for themselves.

Tom's humor was one of his most defining traits — sharp, quick, and just the right amount of inappropriate. It was a gift he proudly passed down to his daughters. He had a special fondness for swapping stories with anyone who had also grown up in Plymouth in the 1950s, and those conversations never got old. In his later years, he and Judi often reflected on the life they had built together. It hadn't always been easy, but they both agreed: they had been lucky to find each other, and luckier still to have lived as fully as they did.

Tom is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Judi; his daughters Kristen and Jamin; three grandchildren, Shannon, Trish and Michael; as well as four great-grandchildren, Desmond, Violet, Oscar and Harry. He will be remembered for his humor, his restless curiosity, his love of the open road, and his gift for turning ordinary moments into adventures. He will be greatly missed by his family and all those that knew him.

His Farewell… Please leave a message of comfort for Tom’s family at 1-877-231-7900, or sign his guestbook at www.borekjennings.com.

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