"Cannot believe this. Went to Cox Elementary with Tom so many years ago. Had no idea he was so very talented. My sympathies to his wife and sons. Gigi Cirrincione "
In loving memory of
Thomas Franklin Cox
December 4, 1962 - May 13, 2020
Thomas Franklin Cox, 57, of Scottsdale, died on May 13, 2020, at Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix. Tom, also known as Tommy to family and friends, was born on December 4, 1962, in Xenia, Ohio, to Evelyn Johnson Cox (San Diego, CA) and Emmett Cox (Dayton, OH), who both preceded him in death.
From a young age it was evident that Tom had a wide range of interests and talents. In his impersonations of Elvis at age nine, to his childhood adulation of baseball player, Johnny Bench, it was easy to see that music and sports would play a big role in his life. Tom was a multi-sport athlete throughout junior high and high school, where he also played bass in the school orchestras, and sang in the school choirs, as well as in the youth choir of Westminster United Presbyterian Church. Tom's love of music grew with him and anytime he could pick up his guitar and sing, he would. He played guitar, wrote music and inspired many others to do the same, including his sons.
Tom graduated from Xenia High School in 1981 and received his BA from the University of Southern California in 1986. Following in the Johnson family legacy of collegiate athletes, Tom played football for the USC Trojans, and as starting center, relished their victory over Ohio State in the 1985 Rose Bowl. He later played briefly for the Los Angeles Rams.
After a successful corporate career, and even managing a rock band or two, Tom founded Catalyst Packaging in 2008. Tom's creative side and enthusiasm for everything served him well in the business world, and he made as many friends as he did clients.
World travel, adventure, concerts, and beaches were high on Tom's list of favorite activities. Vacations to many different places with family, especially with Gretchen and his three sons, are times he held dear to his heart. All three sons played collegiate sports. Tom rarely missed a game and loved supporting them in all their academic and athletic achievements. Whenever he was away from home, Tom would miss his two dogs, who always hung out with him in his office daily, working hard beside him.
Tom loved everyone and cared deeply about the world around him, and he was a man of his word. He had many inspirational sayings, some penned by others, and some he simply created. His most memorable words, his favorite saying, were "from the heart", and this is the way he chose to live his life. These words serve as a guide to us as how to remember Tom, and to choose always to give to others, as he did, from the heart.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Gretchen, and his three sons, Jordan Cox and wife Michelle (Moorpark, CA), Dakota Cox (Albuquerque, NM) and Chandler Cox (Fort Lauderdale, FL), as well as his brother Emmett "Buddy" Cox (Fairborn, OH), his sisters, Dr. Joy Logan (Honolulu, HI) and Lee Ann Brooks (Ashland, KY), and a large extended family who loved him as cousin and nephew.
A donation may be made to the Tom Cox Memorial, Phoenix Dragons Youth Football, http://phoenixdragonsfootball.com/index.php/tomcox/
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 2:00 PM, Hansen Desert Hills Chapel, 6500 E. Bell Road Scottsdale, AZ 85254.
Tributes
"This was one of our Family Favorite pictures of Thomas. I miss you Little Brother"
"Tom and I became fast friends during his divorce when I represented him in the late 90s. Since then, we remained good friends and would socialize when he was in Arizona during his residence in Utah. Tom made the world a better place and I always knew that I had a colleague and an ally whenever needed. I will miss him dearly and I feel that he was too soon to go. My condolences and love go to his remaining family, his sons and his wife Gretchen."
"To my Sweet Sweet Husband, Tom, please know I miss you everyday . I can along strive to continue to do things that will make you smile. I love you more each day! Love Gretchen "
"Hey, Tommy was my right hand man when I was at left guard and left of me when I was on the right; he was our Center while I was a sophomore at the University of Southern California when I played weak guard (away from the tight end) in the I formation and other backfield sets that Coach Ted Tollner brought with him from BYU. Tom and I spent hours together after games that year watching VHS recorded games he always had available. It was a premium that we lived so close just off the USC campus. We bulldozed nose tackles and inside linebackers, usually in odd 3-4:fronts, all season long and against Ohio State and Chris Spielman in the Rose Bowl, a serious victory 20-17 where we mainly kept the football on the ground because of the muscle we had up front! We beat Notre Dame, UCLA and LSU that season in 1984, we\'d have been National Champs. We ended up ranked # 16 nationally. Playing with Tom and spending time with him eating, drinking, and living large, watching games at his apartment and then the next day in the film room was what it was all about. What a pleasure knowing such a fine gentleman and a true student of the game. And heck, he was brilliant; while I was smashing my skull during Spring football he was smart enough too have stayed away from that action and actually go too work in sales before he graduated with the company he inevitably grew through his due diligence and business skills. If I had it all too do over again and could replay the tape, the tape would look just like highlights of Tom\'s life. I still feel his presence, he\'s close by!"
"Tom was a great guy to be around with a passion for football and life. I was lucky enough to know him and his family through his son Dakota who I went to high school and college with. He had an infectious energy that made you excited to be a part of whatever game I ran into him at. I was lucky enough to see him a few months before his passing at his home in Scottsdale where I remember him being so welcoming, asking how I was doing and offering me a beer. Rest easy Tom! You are missed already! "