Timing suggests it's a response to seasonal drought. If not dying back or appearing diseased in some other way then that might be the extent of it. Mulching and watering would be expected to improve leaf retention.

If you can display good photos here it might be possible to make additional observations. While it should be apparent there is a problem, due to the shriveling that occurs there is some kind of blight that is appearing in recent years on the native bigleaf maple here. Leaves on sections of the uppermost top suddenly and dramatically go yellow and then brown, bent downward. Adjacent branches still have green leaves at the same time.

There is also a decline syndrome showing up wherein the leaves of bigleaf maples become smaller over time, after which the whole tree may die. Samples taken from specimens in the Seattle arboretum showed their roots to be infested with pathogenic water molds.

But you have said your tree looks normal expect for it being bare. It is curious that it takes so long to shed, and that it is still dropping leaves in November. Might it be a sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)?

bboy, thanks for the feedback, It is definitely a big leaf maple.
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I saw a bunch more bigleaf maples tonight with the phenomenon I described. I've been wondering if it might be this, although it seems uncharacteristic for it to have apparently spread fairly rapidly and widely.

Here is a link that might be useful: Maple -- Verticillium Wilt

...I've been thinking what I'm seeing might be this, brought on more noticeably by the weather we've had this year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Maple -- Bacterial Leaf Spot and Dieback

It looks like the Maple -- Verticillium Wilt

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