Thomas Gregory Faist's Obituary
Thomas Gregory Faist, age 66, of Hilliard, Ohio, passed away peacefully on the evening of May 17, 2025, at The Convalarium of Dublin, after battling cancer for a year.
Born on September 24, 1958, in Columbus, Ohio, Tom was the oldest of four sons of Donald and Patricia (O’Brien) Faist. A lifelong resident of Columbus, Tom graduated from Bishop Watterson High School and from The Ohio State University with a degree in Industrial Design.
In 1987, he married the love of his life, Diane Reed, after meeting as co-workers at McAlister Camera. They are blessed with two adored children, Michael and Katie.
Tom had many lifelong passions, including photography, design, technology, science fiction, football, desktop publishing, camping, travel, and classic cars like the Ford Model A.
In his personal and professional life, Tom loved to help people learn to use new technology. As a pioneer at the dawn of desktop publishing in the 1980s, he co-founded the MacDesigners/Digital Designers Users Group (D2G) in Columbus and authored two books on graphic design for Macromedia Press. He was one of Micro Center’s earliest publishing instructors, teaching first in their Columbus store in 1988, and later at their Marietta, Georgia location in 1989.
When Tom returned to Columbus, he joined Bill “B.J.” Van de Velde—Dean of Advertising and Graphic Design at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD)—to create their original program for desktop publishing. He purchased early Macintosh computers, developed curriculum, and hired instructors. He taught software such as PageMaker, Illustrator, and Photoshop to college students and digital technology to kids at CCAD's Saturday morning art classes.
Tom's passion for technology and education earned him the role of Director of Information Technology at CCAD, where he contributed to multiple disciplines at the school. At home, he shared his expertise enthusiastically, raising two tech-savvy kids and two of the most iPad-proficient octogenarians the world has ever seen: his mother, Pat, and mother-in-law B.J. Moran. He also enjoyed working as a Genius at the Apple Store at Easton and as a computer specialist with the Upper Arlington City Schools.
Tom was known for his big heart, hearty laugh, friendly smile, and constant willingness to help anyone in need. As the oldest of four, he shared a lifetime of stories with his brothers. While each tale usually ended with one brother at fault, they bonded over a shared, good-natured sense of humor.
He was a devoted and loving husband who supported Diane through life's highs and lows. Together, they embarked on trips to Europe and Hawaii, and took cross-country road trips to national parks like Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton—creating unforgettable (and well-photographed) family memories.
He loved being a dad: supporting Katie and Michael through soccer games, scouting trips, new pets, cross-country moves, and everything else life had to offer.
Tom made cherished friends wherever he went and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Donald; father-in-law, Thomas E. Reed; and dear golden retriever, Emmie.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Diane; son, Michael; daughter, Katie; mother, Pat; brothers, Craig (Lori), Douglas (Sandy), and Steven (Cami); mother-in-law, B.J. Moran; brothers-in-law, Steve (Lynn) and Andy (Jenny); nieces and nephews; cousins; dear friend, B.J. Van de Velde (“Vandy”) of CCAD; sweet dog, Dasher, and lively grand-dog, Ranger.
A Celebration of Life for Tom will be held on September 26th, 2025, at Cedar Ridge Lodge at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park in Columbus. For details, please email: [email protected]
In remembrance and celebration of Tom, pet your dog, do a good deed, take a photo, share a laugh, or call a friend to say you care.
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