Thomas David Mantel

Thomas David (“Tom”) Mantel, age 99, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 21, 2025, surrounded by loving family. For 75 years, dearly beloved husband of Flo Mary (Foreman). Devoted father of Wendy (Daniel Garbowit), Emily and Thomas Jr. (deceased). Adoring grandfather of Thomas M. Richardson (deceased). Son of Samuel Joseph and Beatrice Talmas Mantel; cherished brother of Samuel J. Mantel, Jr. (Dotti, both deceased). Loving uncle of Mike (Sue) Mantel; S.J. Mantel III; Maggie Sutton and Betsy (Marc) Pritchard. 

The dearest wish of Sam Mantel, Tom’s father, was fulfilled when his youngest son joined him in corporate law and estate planning practice at Mantel and Doyle, the firm founded by Sam. Tom loved practicing law with his dad—they ate lunch together to talk law and golfed together to talk law. In many ways, they were best friends who happened to work together.

After serving as Senior Partner, Tom oversaw the merger of the Mantel firm with another Indianapolis law practice, again serving as Senior Partner. He retired half-heartedly at 65--far from ready to retire. When it became known that he was now a free agent, Tom was recruited within a month to serve as General Counsel at Trilithic, Inc., an Indianapolis electronics company, where he worked from 1993-2010, finally fully retiring in his mid-80s.

Tom graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and received degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He was a member of Gamma Alpha national honorary scientific fraternity, served in the Pacific theater in WWII as an Army Air Corps Sargent and was a life-long member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana.

Tom was passionate about fighting prejudice, especially antisemitism. He wrote his undergraduate college thesis about the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of B’nai B’rith, later supporting it locally and nationally as Treasurer. He was actively involved with the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, where he served as President. He was instrumental in founding a group at IHC to study and perform plays of great Yiddish and Jewish writers. 

One of Tom’s greatest legacies is his creativity. He was a born writer—expressive and full of ideas. He composed many short stories, essays, poems, and inventive letters to his loved ones. Fishing, travel, golf, bowling, stamp collecting, photography, movies, and, especially, music were great passions, too. His greatest, unending love was the one he shared with his family.

A private graveside funeral was held in honor of Tom. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Mantel Cultural Arts Fund c/o Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, 6501 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260. Friends may leave a message of condolence or a memory of Tom for the family by visiting his obituary at www.arnmortuary.com

Arrangements entrusted to Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Funeral Home.