Tom Durkin JD’85 was a beloved family man, esteemed judge, and lifelong advocate for justice and environmental preservation. His integrity, compassion, and most of all, an abiding kindness, touched and changed the countless “folks” Tom encountered in his too-short, but so full, life.
Following his passing on December 3, 2024, at the age of 67, a few of us who loved him dearly decided to honor Tom’s life and legacy by launching an effort to create The Honorable Thomas S. Durkin JD’85 Memorial Scholarship at Vermont Law and Graduate School, his beloved alma mater.
To endow this fund for generations to come, we seek to raise $100,000 by December 31, 2025. We are pleased, excited, and honored to announce that, with a significant lead donation by an anonymous donor, we are over halfway to our $100,000 goal.
Will you join us by making a gift? Tom’s impact on the Vermont legal and environmental community was profound. This scholarship reflects his values by supporting the next generation of lawyers dedicated to justice and environmental stewardship.
You can make a contribution online using the secure giving form below, or by mail and other ways to give.
On behalf of Tom, “Thanks, Folks,”
Mike Durkin JD’14, Peter Van Oot, and Paul Gelep
For more about Tom and the scholarship effort, you can see our full “Statement of Case” here.