Thomas Robert Geary

Thomas Robert Geary (Tom), 71, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and son, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2021, in Scottsdale, AZ. Born March 29, 1949, in Brookline, Massachusetts, he and his wife, Cathy, moved to Arizona in 1981 to raise their children closer to family. During his long residency in Arizona, Tom proudly dropped those east coast 'r' sounds when he talked, and his love of wearing shorts in cold weather supported his New England roots. A diehard sports fan, Tom loved cheering for all of his favorite teams: the Boston Celtics, the Boston Red Sox, and the Boston Bruins. His dedication to the New England Patriots was unmatched, and he lovingly passed down his fandom to his wife and children. You have never seen a bigger smile than the one on Tom's face after a Patriots' win. "Family first" was Tom's motto, and he was dedicated to them, cherishing every minute spent with his wife, kids, grandkids, and extended family. Nothing made him happier than being surrounded by his loved ones, and if that wasn't possible, he made a point to frequently call family and friends, both old and new. Tom is remembered for his huge sense of humor, his pass...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

for education, his patient and supportive nature, his intelligence, and his outgoing personality. A graduate of Catholic Memorial High School in Boston, Northeastern University, and DePaul University in Chicago, Tom worked in the field of Accounting and Finance. In addition, for over 20 years, he taught Finance and Accounting courses at the University of Phoenix, always having a lasting impact on his students. He enthusiastically coached YMCA basketball for many years, sharing his love of the sport with his son, daughter, and many of their friends and teammates. He supported his kids and grandkids at every opportunity: dance recitals, music concerts, theater performances, basketball games, and wrestling matches... always being one of the loudest in the cheering section. Tom was also a fantastic cook, known by his wife, kids and grandkids to make the most delicious pancakes, stir fry, seafood dishes, and mac and cheese. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, John and Rita Geary, and his brother, Jack. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Cathy; his children, Carin (Scott) Rowland, Thomas Robert (Katy) Geary Jr. (Rob), and Kaitlyn (Zach) Gifford; his four grandchildren: Kelsey(9), Lexi(6), Makenna(6), Hannah(2), and a grandson due in June; his siblings: Peggy Geary, Betty (Richard) Poirot, and Barbie (Ron) Willig; and numerous in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and close family friends. There will be a Celebration of Life for Tom on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at 10:00am (MT) at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary in Scottsdale, AZ. A streaming of Tom's service will be available to view live or afterwards at the link below: https://vimeo.com/521622525 In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Tom's life can make a memorial donation in his name to the American Diabetes Association https://www.diabetes.org/donate/donate-memorial?s_src=dorg&s_subsrc=dorg or the American Kidney Fund. https://www.kidneyfund.org