Thomas L. Cox

Thomas Cox, 95, of Lake Forest, IL, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025.
Tom grew up in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a Czech immigrant who proudly wore his Bohemian heritage as a badge of honor. A graduate of Cornell College, he began law school at the University of Michigan but left after a single year, feeling an irresistible pull home to reunite with his college sweetheart. It was, without question, the best decision of his life, leading to an extraordinary 70 year marriage to his beloved wife Maureen, with whom he will now be reunited.
Tom's career was highlighted by a three decade run in the telephone industry, beginning as a management trainee at AT&T and culminating as Chief Financial Officer of Illinois Bell; an achievement that spoke to the breadth of his abilities, especially as a political science major. A lifelong and long-suffering Chicago sports fan, he never missed a Cubs or Bears game, meeting each loss with a familiar grimace and each rare win with genuine joy.
He possessed a wicked sense of humor, delivered from the tip of a sharp tongue. To be on the receiving end of a classic Tom Cox zinger was to know you had been fully embraced into his wide circle of family and friends.
To the four generations of family that mourn his loss while celebrating his life, he was truly their patriarch. Tom is survived by his three sons, Tom (Laura), Andy (Geri) and Steve (Jennifer King); was the beloved grandfather to Tom (Amelia), Taylor (Mike Carrier), Samantha (Scott Kessler), Stephanie Stiltz (Spencer), Austin (Alexis Spooner), Andrew, Maisie, Kendall, Clara (Lane Hummel), Henry and Greta; and in recent years, delighted in the arrival of seven great-grandchildren, Riley, Tommy, Harper, Simon, McKenna, Cameron, and Lucy.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Lake Forest Place, 1100 Pembridge Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090, www.smiletrain.org; or ASPCA, PO Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090-6929, www.aspca.org.