Tom Haskins

John Thomas “Tom” Haskins passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1 at his home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He was 78 years old.

Tom was born on April 27, 1947 in Vinita, Oklahoma. He graduated from Miami High School (Oklahoma) as well as the University of Tulsa with a BS in Zoology. His time in college made him a lifelong fan of Tulsa basketball and football. He received his PhD from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Texas Marine Biological Institute in Galveston and University of Texas Southwest Medical School in Dallas.

He met his wife Vera in 1968 and was drafted into the army soon after. Tom, Vera and their two daughters, Kerri and Sarah, moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania when Tom became the Supervisor of the Neurophysiology Unit at Wyeth Laboratories. His later work at Janssen Pharmaceuticals allowed Tom and Vera to live in Belgium for three years. Tom was most proud of the opportunity to move from a laboratory scientist position to conducting clinical research, developing drugs for treating depression. He retired as Senior Director of Janssen Neuroscience Medical Affairs and continued to consult in the area of Alzheimer’s research. Many colleagues remember him as a mentor and friend.

To know Tom was to know his intelligence and sense of humor. You knew he loved you if you were on the end of one of his practical jokes or made it onto his running list of malaprops. An aficionado of history, Tom made it his goal to read a biography of every US president.

An avid fisherman and hunter, Tom traveled far and wide for the perfect catch, and there were many. However, some of his favorite fishing holes were close to home on the Delaware River, which always had a special place in his heart.

As a fiftieth birthday gift, Vera gave him a chocolate lab puppy named Cooper, a beloved member of the family and one of many dogs Tom owned in his lifetime, a testament to his love of animals. Tom could often be found walking the streets of Doylestown with a pocket full of treats to share with neighborhood dogs. Along those walks, Tom had a gift for finding four leaf clovers, which he shared with others as a token of caring and good luck.

At home, Tom could often be found in the kitchen sipping a glass of champagne or wine from his extensive cellar and following a complicated recipe for a meal to be shared with family or friends. Friends will remember Tom and Vera’s famous Martini Fridays where all were welcome to drop in for cocktails, good food and laughter.

Tom is survived by his wife, Vera Haskins; daughters, Kerri Schuster (Marc Schuster) and Sarah Haskins (Paul Sanwald); and sister, Jerri Combs (Gary Combs).

Relatives and friends will be received on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, Reed & Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown.  Interment in Washington Crossing National Cemetery will be held privately. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either The Parasol Project for kidney research (NephCure c/o Gardner, Pierce and Associates, P.C. – Accounting Department 5 Center Avenue, Suite D, Collegeville, PA 19426) or the Lewy Body Dementia Association (912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 3004).