COLE--Thomas "Tom." Tom Cole, 63, was called to his heavenly home on Monday, December 25, 2023 after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Tom was born to the late E. Joseph and Fay Cole on September 3, 1960. He was the beloved brother of Jeff (Susan) Cole and Cindy Koerner (Chip Hussey). He was a devoted husband to his wife of 18 years, Kim Gerbasi Cole. He was the proud father to Jenna Cole (James Kwit), Tara (Christopher) Nikodem, and Jonathon Cole. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Braden, Claire, Thomas, and Emery. Tom attended Indiana University on a full scholarship. While at IU, he was an award-winning captain of the swim team, graduating in 1982 with a finance degree. He later earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth Business School. In 2021, Tom retired after a successful career of almost 40 years in banking with Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and most recently as head of Leveraged Finance at Citibank. Tom also served on the Dean's council of the Kelley School of Business and was recently inducted into the Academy of Alumni Fellows of the Kelley School. Tom was a national board member and chairman of the New Canaan Society and founded the Manhattan chapter. Tom was a founding member and president of Faith in Financial Services in New York. He was an articulate and passionate speaker and mentor to many. A memorial service will be held at The Compass Church in Naperville, IL on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 11am. A Celebration of Life will be held in New York City at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a contribution in Tom's memory to a charity that is meaningful to you would be much appreciated. For a complete obituary, please visit: www.friedrich-jones.com or call (630)355-0213 for more information.

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Published by New York Times on Dec. 31, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for THOMAS COLE

22 Entries

Phil Jackson

December 22, 2024

Love you family, Kim and I are holding you guys close during this season! We love you all and are praying with you and for you!

Cassie & Craig Britten

May 23, 2024

We just heard the sad news of Mr. Coles passing. We send uplifting prayers to his family. My husband took care of his stone at his home in Naples. Taken too young, he will be missed. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Tom Frater

January 17, 2024

I just heard the VERY sad news of Tom's passing. He was a beloved friend and mentor to me at the times that I needed him most in life. He will be dearly missed. God bless you Tom,

Nicholas Carlton `68

January 11, 2024

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Maggy Siegel

January 8, 2024

I am so sorry to hear of Tom´s passing. I knew him from IU and Asphalt Green. He was a great swimmer - well-liked by everyone he came in contact with - and he will be sorely missed. Maggy Siegel

Kimo Esplin

January 6, 2024

Tom was our `go to banker´ for many years. To me, he was more than an advisor, he was a trusted friend. As such, he called it as he saw it - even when his counsel didn´t maximize his revenue. Often, after a discussion about a particular issue, Tom would ask about me personally, and about my family. Not in a general way, but specifically, such as inquiring about a particular child by name - remembering their background and current circumstances.

From the days we worked together at Bankers Trust, my wife has known that I wanted Tom to speak at my own funeral as one of the most Christian people I know.

My love to Kim and the Cole family. I will miss a trusted friend and advisor.

Brad James

January 4, 2024

We met Tom around 1990, when he was on the bank committee trying to restructure our company´s massive bank and bond debt.
When you default on your debt many creditors treat you poorly, with little respect. Tom and his two co-committee people were exceptions. In reading his biography, I learned that being kind and considerate was in Tom´s DNA.
After three years of hard negotiations, we fixed our company, and we gained three friends for life. We socialized and kept in touch, especially before Tom moved to New York for work.
When you go through extremely difficult situations with people you can end up with a special bond-which we did.
A month ago, Tom and I reconnected on email and chatted about a 30-year reunion lunch this summer in Chicago.
Tom was extremely intelligent, but more importantly, he was excellent in dealing with people. In the much-maligned banking profession, Tom brought integrity and commitment to everything he did. Tom Cole will be missed by many.
His Friends at USG Corporation:
Brad James, Rick Fleming, Eric Schaal

Mark Neisler

January 3, 2024

All honor to his name.

Paul Sharkey

January 2, 2024

No matter how successful Tom was in life, and he was very successful by so many measures, I will always remember him by how kind, inviting, and warm he was. I recall telling Tom near his retirement date that I was happy to have met him and had him be part of my life, because selfishly, he simply made my life a little brighter, a little happier. Tom was just a lovely person and I will miss him. I wish his family the best during this very difficult time.

Cathie Wood

December 31, 2023

Having served with Tom in the Financial Services Ministry through Redeemer Church from 2013 through 2020, I saw how profoundly he cared for the professional and spiritual development of young people and heard many times how much he loved his heaven-sent wife and children.

From his leveraged loan view of the world, Tom teased me often about ARK's volatile world in the realm equities focused on disruptive innovation. We had good laughs.

I think that God's reaction to Tom has been and is: "Well done, good and faithful servant." Well done, Tom. God bless you, Tom. Thank you, Tom -
Cathie Wood

David and Mary Rzepczynski

December 31, 2023

A Christmas tradition is watching "It´s a Wonderful Life" with a message of how life would be if George Bailey never existed. All of our lives are richer after Tom entered and became a part of each one of us. My friend you truly are and always be one of God´s servants.

Pastor Phil Jackson

December 31, 2023

I Love Tom Cole! We met in 1994 with a work day that Christ Church was hosting in Lawndale, we walked in Lawndale and cleaned, talked and laughed. We have Journeyed ever since. Tom came to my wife Kim and I 20th anniversary in 2005 and we gave these clear plastic blocks to those who built into our life. The block we gave Tom was loyalty. No matter what was going on in my life I could call Tom. The man was and is faithful, this example truly strengthened me. All from his love of Jesus Christ and his example of a follower of Jesus.

Family know that our hearts are with you as we are hurting along with you. We are here for you on this new journey, our prayers and our hands are with you!

Naomi Rolfe

December 30, 2023

Just knowing Tom Cole made me a better person. The time we spent together was short yet so meaningful. My fondest memories of Tom will be when we spent time together with our grandchildren. I had the privilege of staying at his and Kim´s Naples home a couple of years ago, enjoying our grandchildren together. He made it a point include me when his friends came to dinner and enjoyed a sunset together with family. Tom enjoyed a good meal. We had a great steak dinner that he prepared and not just one type of steak but several. He was just beaming to have his family sitting with him around the dinner table and talking about life and the journey and decisions we made that got us here today. Tom´s faith was so strong. He seemed so happy to invite me to church with him and taking a tour around Naples. I love that memory. Back in Naperville while he and Kim where babysitting Emery, I was babysitting Claire and Thomas. He was so kind to call and ask what I would like for dinner because he was coming over and treating us. He was always so thoughtful and made me feel like family. I will miss him deeply, but his wisdom and kindness will always be with me.
Naomi

Frank Cheswick

December 29, 2023

Dear Kim and family,
You have our deepest sympathy. Tom was the best friend and business colleague anyone could hope for, an All-American in multiple categories. Love, Frank and Georgia

Jay Raj Nallo

December 29, 2023

He was such a wonderful Christian brother and mentor.

Bill Lundeen

December 28, 2023

When Paul Sigfussion mentioned to me that Tom was moving to New York City on a more permanent basis, I introduced Tom to (the recently late) B.J. Weber who with his wife Sheila made themselves available full time to residents of NYC. Recognizing Tom´s gifts B.J. Asked Tonnto found the Manhattan Chapter of the New Caanan Society, a group devoted to introducing Wall Street professionals to Jesus. Oh Tom. We miss you. The countless lives you touched through NCS will eventually find you in Heaven and thank you forever. Well done.

Elizabeth and Arnie Gervasio

December 28, 2023

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

Brent Thomas Krueger

December 28, 2023

Tom was my swimming inspiration in high school and at Indiana University. He was an excellent guide in helping me navigate fraternity life & swimming, and helped in focusing my trade policy work in Boston & DC so many years ago. He will be swept missed. Warmest regards to his family!

Ronni Paulive Miller

December 28, 2023

I have 2 favorite moments one was attending his wedding to my college roommate and best friend Kim and my visit to their Naples home filled with laughter and love. I will never forget that visit.

Joseph Scott Etzler

December 28, 2023

I first met tom at a Kelly board meeting approximately 20 years ago. I was always a huge fan of the swim team so I glommed onto him immediately.
he was such a smart, caring individual, always talking about philanthropy and his family. I really enjoyed our times together and will miss him.
my wife and I will donate to the Kelly school in his name. our prayers to the family

Brad Poorman

December 28, 2023

Tom was a kind gentleman

"The kindest people are not born that way, they are made. They are the souls that have experienced so much at the hands of life, they are the ones who have dug themselves out of the dark, who have fought to turn every loss into a lesson. The kindest people do not just exist - they choose to soften where circumstance has tried to harden them, they choose to believe in goodness, because they have seen firsthand why compassion is so-necessary. They have seen firsthand why tenderness is so important in this world."

Ryan M.

December 28, 2023

So sorry for your loss of Tom. He touched so many lives and will be truly missed. (Psalms 94:19)

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