Thomas Drake Garlitz

Thomas Drake Garlitz, 71, of Charlotte, NC, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at his home.

Born May 5, 1953, in Cumberland, MD, Tom was the son of the late V. LeRoy Garlitz and Nancy (Brandes) Holland Garlitz.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Sarah Roberta Garlitz, and is survived by his sister, Janice E. Garlitz, 39927 New Road, Aldie, VA 20105.

Tom graduated from Saints Peter & Paul Elementary School, Cumberland, MD, in 1967 with the highest grade-point average.  In the summer of 1970, Tom studied chemistry at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, on a National Science Foundation scholarship. He then graduated from Bishop Walsh High School, Cumberland, MD, in 1971.  His senior year, Tom was a Student Council Representative and led the first “walk-out” of the Student Council. Tom achieved the highest 4-year grade average and was awarded numerous medals in individual high school classes.  His classmates gave him an ovation during the ceremony.

Tom attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a James M. Johnson Fellowship.  He graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1975 with majors in Political Science and History.  Tom then attended the Law School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with annual Ellis Scholarships.  He was a Research Editor for the North Carolina Law Review (voted “outstanding editor” by the other members of the editorial board) and graduated as a member of the Order of the Coif in 1978.

After passing the 1978 North Carolina Bar Exam, Tom became the first Law Clerk of Judge J. Dickson Phillips, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  Upon completing his clerkship in 1979, Tom moved to Charlotte, where he began his 43-year career as a civil litigator, first with the firm of Cansler, Lockhart, Parker, Young and Evans, and finally with his own firm, Thomas D. Garlitz PLLC.  Tom was a civil litigator handling a variety of cases ranging from accidental deaths to estate disputes. Tom was a respected member of the NC Bar Association and of the Mecklenburg County Bar. 

Tom was an avid genealogist, a rock n’ roll and country music enthusiast, a devoted philatelist and a fan of UNC football and basketball and of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. Tom’s passion for genealogy began when he uncovered the history of his great-grandparents in Charlotte and also discovered that two great-great-great-grandfathers fought with the Overmountain Men at the Battle of King’s Mountain.

Memorial services are being planned for Spring 2025.

Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Garden, Cumberland, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Class of 1978 Scholarship or the J. Dickson Phillips, Jr. Scholarship either online, by check or by phone - details at https://law.unc.edu/alumni/giving-opportunities - or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

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