Thomas J. Dillon

Thomas J. Dillon, a father, grandfather and great-grandfather who was also an international builder and inventor of a patented building system used around the world, died at home February 7, 2026, from an extended illness. He was 94.

The son of Irish immigrants, Thomas Dillon was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1932. He attended Catholic grade school in Kenmore and St. Mary's high school in Akron. He graduated from The University of Akron in 1953 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

Dillon grew up with a strong work ethic. As a 10-year-old, he caddied at the local Fairlawn Country Club and Portage Country Club golf courses. While attending The University of Akron, he worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., doing everything from sweeping the floor to curing tires. Always wanting to be productive, he used the 12 to 15 minutes it took for the tires to cure to read his literature course books.

He also continued caddying to supplement his income. He told his family: "I did 18 holes, carrying two bags at a time. The Country Club paid $1.50 per golf bag for 18 holes. I generally did 36 holes a day. We'd also get an extra 50 cents a bag as a tip from the Club members.”

It was at The University of Akron where he met his wife, Patricia. They were married 39 years and had seven daughters.

After graduating, Dillon sold real estate for 14 months before starting his own company. He got a brokerage license, which he maintained for more than 70 years.

He became a contractor and developer of more than 200 multi-story buildings throughout the United States, including banks, libraries, churches and schools. He developed two patented building systems. The first, The Dillon System, used a precast concrete system to greatly reduce the time and expense of building high-rises.

In 1968, The Dillon Co. merged with Forest City Enterprises to form Forest City Dillon. In 1970 this company was one of 22 companies selected for Operation Breakthrough, a national building competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Using The Dillon System, the company constructed more than 50,000 apartment units worldwide.

Dillon later sold The Dillon System building licenses in Mexico, Yugoslavia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. He also personally supervised building projects in Iran and Singapore and consulted on the development of a housing program in Costa Rica.

Dillon holds the distinction of having constructed what was once the largest horse barn in the world. It housed 496 horses in Lexington, Ky.

Dillon also built, and was an owner of, the Sheraton Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Cuyahoga Falls. He built 14 other major hotels, including the Sheraton Harbor Island hotel in San Diego.

Outside of building, Dillon was always civic-minded. A former Boy Scout, he became a member of the Boy Scouts Greater Council Executive Board. He has been a member of Goals for Greater Akron, Blue Coats of Akron, Fairlawn Country Club, the University Club and the Lone Star Fraternity.

He had a zest for life and adventure and always encouraged his children and grandchildren to pursue travel, higher education and big dreams. He enjoyed researching and planning family trips to Europe and such far-flung places as Machu Picchu, Peru; Bolivia; and Costa Rica. He personally traveled to almost every continent in the world. He enjoyed hiking, swimming, golfing and fishing. He received his pilot's certificate when he was 54 years old and subsequently flew single-engine and multi-engine planes for nearly 30 years. He co-piloted his boat along the East Coast and studied the newest makes of cars. He even participated in a multi-day road rally through New England.

Dillon was a supporter of Akron Children’s Hospital. He received the Frank L. Simonetti Award for Distinguished Business Alumni from The University of Akron in 1995, and the Fr. Thomas F. Maher Outstanding Alumni Award from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron for his service to community and professional achievement in 2001. He was a lifetime director of the National Association of Home Builders and president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Akron in 1963. He received the American Builder Magazine's National Quality Model House Award in 1959. He is a former vice president, director and charter member of the James A. Michener Society, based in Greeley, Colo., which honors the prolific writer.

He was a longtime parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Cuyahoga Falls and St. Hilary Parish in Fairlawn.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Maczuzak; his daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy Dillon Beukenkamp and her husband, Felix Beukenkamp, Susan Dillon and her husband, Christopher Williams, Eleanor and Charles Kuder, Patricia and Robert Bozsik, Mary and David Cooke, Frances Kline and her partner Mark Goldstein, and Kathleen Dillon Narko; his son, Thomas Dillon Peynado; 22 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and 10 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; his parents, Michael Joseph and Catherine Dillon; his sister, Kathleen Dillon Stafford; his sons-in-law Kevin Kline and Kevin Narko; and his great-granddaughters Charlotte Kline and Stela Martinez.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., FRIDAY, February 20, 2026, at Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Akron, 44333. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m., SATURDAY, February 21, 2026, at St. Hilary's Catholic Church, 2750 W. Market St., Fairlawn, Ohio, 44333. Burial will follow at All Saints Cemetery in Northfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Akron or St. Hilary Parish in Fairlawn. 

Services in care of the Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)