Thomas Allen Bres

1961 - 2015

Thomas Allen Bres
1961-2015
Thomas Allen Bres passed away the 11th of August 2015, in Houston, Texas. Tom was born the 5th of May 1961, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tom's parents, Joseph and Jere Bres, moved their six children from New Orleans to Memphis, Tennessee and Ridgewood, New Jersey before settling in Houston, Texas. Tom attended Westchester High School, where he played varsity basketball for the Wildcats. Tom received a full scholarship to the University of Texas, where he graduated with a BBA in Finance with highest honors. Throughout his time at UT, Tom continued to play basketball on many intramural teams and was a Silver Spur. Tom went on to graduate with highest honors in 1986 from the University of Texas School of Law. While in law school, Tom also played football for Charles Alan Wright and the Legal Eagles.
Tom began his legal career at Andrews Kurth, the firm where he met his wife Jan. He then briefly worked at Trammell Crow where he made many life long friends. Tom returned to the practice of law at Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton, making partner in 1994. Tom switched industries in 2000 by joining Goldman Sachs in Private Wealth Management. He later moved to Morgan Stanley, and finally to UBS, where he became a Managing Director. Tom remained at UBS, with his amazing group of partners, for the duration of his career.
Tom was a member of Houston Country Club and Allegro. He also served as Treasurer on the Budget and Finance Committee of the River Oaks Property Association, as well as being a member of the Contemporary Arts Museum Board and the St. John's School Risk Management Committee. He and Jan also chaired the Quadrangle Club at St. John's School.
Tom loved his job at UBS and enjoyed many hours in the company of great friends and clients. A rabid sports fanatic, Tom spent a large part of his time rooting for the Houston Rockets. Although not always right, but never in doubt, Tom was extremely well read and reveled in spirited discussions with his many friends. Tom took pride in his cars, enjoyed a properly made Grey Goose straight up with a twist (shaken very cold), and sincerely loved traveling the world with his family. But, more than anything in life, Tom loved his wife, Jan, and daughters, Kate and Meg. Tom passionately coached Kate and Meg in basketball, softball and soccer (despite his complete lack of soccer experience), which resulted in multiple UCAL championships. Truly one of the finest husbands and fathers, Tom always put his family above himself. There was nothing in life Tom would rather do than watch Kate play volleyball at Amherst College or Meg cheer at SMU, as evidenced by his constant presence on the sidelines. Tom was an incredibly hardworking, passionate and charismatic man. He was always the life of the party, the ultimate master of ceremonies. He had the remarkable ability to command the respect of any room he entered. Tom will always be remembered for his absolutely incredible sense of humor, his charm, and most importantly for his unwavering love for those he cared about. Cheers to you, Tom, you will be dearly missed by so many.
Tom is survived by his wife, Jan, and their two daughters, Kate and Meg. Tom is also survived by a host of loving family: his siblings, Vaughan Bowen and her partner Michael, Bo Bres and his wife Linda, John Bres and his wife Debbie, Katherine Ware and her husband Alan, Landry Tagliere and her husband Philip, his in-laws Rick and Sally Holzinger and Andrea and Mike Durkin, his uncle John Bres, and his nieces and nephews Thomas, John, Sara, Courtney, Austin, Henry, William, Elle, Chrissy, Hayley, Henry and Lucy.
A memorial service is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 14th of August, at the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where the Rev. Reagan W. Cocke, Associate Rector, is to officiate.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Tom's memory may be directed to The Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research, 2726 Bissonnet Street, Suite 240-602, Houston, Texas 77005 or online at www.thebroachfoundation.org.