Thomas Franklin Cox

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 Troja...[more]

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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.