THOMAS GUGGENHEIM

1927 - 2021

GUGGENHEIM--Thomas. Thomas Stix Guggenheim died peacefully at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday, November 19, 2021 after celebrating his 94th birthday with his family just three three days prior. A native of Cincinnati, he was born in 1927 to Ruth Stix and Jack Guggenheim. He was the youngest and last surviving brother to Jack of Cincinnati and Charles of Washington, DC. Tom attended Walnut Hills High School (Class of '46) and went on to the School of Business at the University of Colorado graduating in 1950. He returned to Cincinnati to begin his career in the hosiery business with the Adler Sock Company. In 1972 he purchased Charleston Hosiery where his career culminated in a leveraged buyout and eventual sale of his interest in the company to his partners enjoying early retirement in 1990. Tom met his first wife, Joan Yarter Guggenheim from Cheyenne, Wyoming, in Capri, Italy in 1954 while accompanying his lifelong friend, tennis champion Tony Trabert, on his Grand Slam European Tour. Tom and Joan married ten months later with Joan leaving New York City and her modeling career to move to Cincinnati. Tom and Joan had four children, Susan, Michael, Ted and Dan before her untimely passing from leukemia in 1969. Tom valiantly filled the role of mother and father to his four young children ages two to twelve while simultaneously managing a successful career. He was fortunate to be introduced to another "love of his life" Joanne (Pedie) Hackett Johnston just two years later, marrying in 1972. Pedie's four children, Jill, Susan, Missy and Sam merged into the Guggenheim home creating a combined family of eight children. Tom was eternally grateful for the fortitude, love, and motherhood that Pedie offered their combined family for close to 50 years of marriage. Tom was a fighter for and lover of life from early on as he was forced to skip third grade due to his childhood asthma. Tom overcame this disability by pursuing athletics throughout his life with a rigorous course of disciplined exercise. His athletic passions included tennis, skiing, horseback riding, biking, golf and particularly swimming which he continued until just weeks before his passing. In 1967, his wife Joan, encouraged him to take up skiing in Aspen and together they built the first private home in the newly established Snowmass Village, CO. Their property dubbed "Guggenhaus West" was a cherished family ski home. Tom and Pedie subsequently built a second home in 1981, "Guggenhaus Summit" on the highest residential tract on Snowmass Mountain. Both homes were gathering places for family and friends for over 50 years and setting the stage for each of his four children to ultimately reside in Colorado today. Tom was seen as a discerning and disciplined businessman but for those who knew him well, he was a most loyal, steadfast and loving friend. The consummate connector and lifelong cultivator of friends, he practiced an unusually quick wit and sense of humor blended with a sincere curiosity about others. He was a tremendous source of knowledge, had exceptional common sense and was an invaluable mentor to family, friends and colleagues alike. An avid devotee of The New York Times, he was often seen on horseback with the New York Times business and sports sections in his back pocket. Tom was immensely grateful to the University of Colorado for his business education and gave generously beginning with a dedication to his late wife Joan in 1969. He had a lifetime mission to be able to make a more significant contribution and was able to fulfill that dream in 2013 by funding the Thomas Stix Guggenheim Family Endowed Chair in Business Design and Innovation at The University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. Like so many of the greatest generation he believed it is better to give than to receive. He lived a full and long life and felt most proud of his family, friends and good fortune. Tom is survived by his wife, Pedie, their eight children, twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: CU Boulder Leeds School of Business: giving.cu.edu in honor of Thomas Guggenheim.