Tom Dolaskie
When Tom Dolaskie returned from his service in the US Air Force to his hometown of Munising, Michigan in 2008 he saw the effects of the economic downturn. As he walked among the many vacant buildings and abandoned houses, he didn’t see a doomed town, he saw opportunity.
Today, visitors to this scenic town may be drawn by its natural beauty and recreation, but are rewarded with choices for eco-exploration, fine dining, and the luxury of five-star hotels.
Tom and his sibling-partners tapped their complementary talents and world-wide experiences, added a partner, and worked to create an extraordinary destination. Tom’s wife Ana’s career is restaurant guest experience, and she manages their fine dining enterprise. Together they created the Roam Community Foundation, which is focused on improving the quality of life in Munising.
Their town is nestled in the mixed forest along the shores of Lake Superior, near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and trails through the 880,000 acre Hiawatha National Forest. Summer tourist season is short in the Upper Peninsula, but thanks to the vision and determination of Tom’s team, there’s plenty of economic activity to sustain this town of 1,800 residents. The Roam Community Foundation keeps folks engaged all year long with events, good-spirited competitions, and heartwarming fundraisers.
Hanley, the local airfield hosts EAA Young Eagles flights, and Tom and his son enjoyed a flight together. Tom realized he now had the opportunity to accomplish a long-time goal to become a fixed-wing pilot right at home. He’d been around C-130s and Blackhawks in the Air Force, and he’d already taken rotor-wing training. He bought a 1943 Taylorcraft.
Tom’s introduction to the RAF was all about improving his local airfield, rather than flying cross-country to backcountry places. The airport had reached a tipping point of failure or change. In 2023, RAF Director Jeff Russell and retired Naval aviator Roger Bentlage from Marquette County Flying Club addressed a local crowd about the benefits of supporting their town airport. “Jeff and Roger calmly and professionally engaged, even with those opposed. I was so impressed by their passion,” Tom said. “I realized that with my experience, I could execute some improvements. ‘Can’t be done’ does not live in my world,” Tom added. RAF Michigan Liaison General Grant said, “Tom tackled remediation, rehabilitation, and investment with the same dedication and vigor as he had done in his other efforts for Munising.”
Tom was also affected when he saw visitors arrive at the airport with their own Subway sandwiches. “They had no way to travel the last mile,” Tom observed, so his nonprofit provided an airport courtesy car. Now visitors landing at Hanley can enjoy the new restroom, shower, and kitchenette, then drive to town and find many attractions among its variety of vibrant shops and businesses.
Tom has lived and worked all over the world, and continues as an executive in their global IT enterprise. “I’ve moved forty-three times,” he said. When he was opening the Montage in Beverly Hills, his dad called to say his mother was terminally ill. That triggered his return to Munising, and settled his sense of home. His brother and sister live in homes next door. “Our kids all play together,” he added.
They lost their dad not long after. “Losing people who are important to you, critical to your purpose . . .I needed to turn those losses into motivation,” he said, “ and I went full throttle from then on.” And the town, and anyone fortunate enough to visit are beneficiaries of all this family dedication and enterprise.
Submitted August 14, 2024
By Carmine Mowbray