Christopher Alan Taro Cole

1967 - 2021

Christopher Alan Taro Cole from Howell, Michigan. May 20, 1967 - June 13, 2021.

Chris is the beloved and devoted son of U.S. Backgammon Hall of Famer Carol Joy (Mitoma) who learned backgammon when Chris was taught it in elementary school; and Lee (with his wife Dawn) who taught Chris baseball and the new “it” sport racquetball around the same time. He is big brother to Jason (who lost to him at everything) and his wife Anna (who is his favorite), and is the best uncle to Ian, Abby and Dylan. He’s also big brother to Dawn’s son James and his wife Angie and is uncle to Maddie.

He spent his last day here loving and laughing with his true love Brooke with whom he found happiness and fulfilment. Sloan says she considers him her stepdad. With Brooke he had intended to adopt Olivia and his dearest wishes are that she is taken care of, and that Brittney and Zachery are happy.

In his youth, he loved comics, playing baseball, watching Abbott & Costello, Star Trek, Michigan Football, and M*A*S*H. But most of all, he loved being around his amazing family – the Mitomas and Floyds. As a young man, he loved girls, playing racquetball, watching Star Trek, Michigan Football, and M*A*S*H, and hanging with his blood family (Mitomas/Floyds) and his found families in school, at Carhartt, and in the Racquetball community.  In more recent years, he loved reading everything from Calvin & Hobbes to Mitch Albom to Harry Potter, watching Star Trek, Michigan Football, M*A*S*H and being family to so many (found & blood).

Chris was known as a physically gifted athlete. Often, when younger, talking about who was the fastest player in baseball, his name was at the top of the list. He was quick, fast and smooth. In the Olympic movement he was known, arguably, as the most mentally tough athlete in the US Olympic Committee.

As amazing as his racquetball career was, it paled in comparison to the life he led as a son, brother, uncle, true love, coach, mentor, Monday Morning Quoter, Super Bowl Commercial Critic and loving friend to all of us. We are grateful and blessed to have known him, loved him and been loved by him. He left the world a brighter place and helped us to be happier and healthier people. To him, we were important. We mattered. May we endeavor to pass on his empathy, sincerity, sweetness, integrity and grace. May we walk his walk of love.

He is preceded in death by his niece Sarah Elizabeth Masako (Ian’s twin sister). 

In lieu of flowers, Chris would want to build a college fund for Olivia.  Please consider a donation to Olivia’s MI-529 fund.  Visit https://gofund.me/f0396a52

His Racquetball Career

Chris played his first racquetball tournament at the United States National Singles Championships in 1978 at the Sports Illustrated Lemontree Club in Belleville, MI.

Christopher won his first racquetball tournament at the Sports Illustrated Beecher Road Club in Flint in 1978. He was 11 and beat his dad in the finals.

Chris was inducted into the RAM Hall of Fame because of his playing ability and also his contributions made to racquetball over the years.

A few of his racquetball accomplishments are:

Won a Michigan Junior State Championship in every age: 13 & under, 15 & under, (then junior’s divisions changed) 16 & under, 18 & under

At 15, broke Mike Yellen’s record for youngest to win a Michigan State Singles Championship Men’s Open

Won at least five Michigan Men’s Open State Singles Championships

With different partners, Jimmy Floyd, Troy Hall, Stu Hastings, won five Michigan Open State Doubles Championships

In 2001 won Bronze at National Doubles in Mixed 30+ with Sandy White

In 1992 won Tournament of the Americas, US National Singles, and World Championship Singles all in a row in April, May, and August.

In 1994 & 95 was Head Coach for US Junior National Team

For 8 years was an instructor at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado

In 1995, received Award For Fair Play by International Olympic Committee in Rome

From 1990 to 1994 on the Board of Directors of RAM (1992-94 was President)

From 2000 to 2003 on the Board of Directors of USRA and US Olympic Committee (2001-03)

Chris became the first racquetball athlete elected to the USOC’s Athletes Advisory Council Board of Directors by the 45-sport AAC membership; he was also elected by the AAC to be on the USOC Board of Directors. He was appointed to the USOC Team Delegation & Review Committee (oversight/approval of all Olympic sports’ selection procedures) and the USOC 2012 Summer Games Search Committee that helped select the US bid city for the 2012 Summer Games, New York City, from a field of eight candidate cities.

What Chris will remember about the game: “all the great people, in Michigan, and around the country I have met, but most especially everyone at the Davison Athletic Club; and playing with integrity and fairness as taught by my parents and coach Jim Hiser.”

Funeral service will be held 10am Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint,

Pastor Sarah LaRose-Nettell officiating.

Burial in Evergreen Cemetery.

Visitation 4-8pm Thursday, 2-4pm and 6-8pm Friday and 9am Saturday until the time of the service at the funeral home.