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Thomas COTNER Obituary
Thomas Ewing Cotner III PhD passed away Jan 28th, 2017. Son of Jeanne and Thomas Cotner, he is survived by his son Scott Shoup of Chattanooga, TN. and brother Zachary Cotner of Falls Church, VA. Thomas was a Vietnam veteran, a lover of literature and the outdoors. He also liked to stick up for the underdog. No services are planned at this time.
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Memories and Condolences
for Thomas COTNER
Phil Hannum
January 29, 2026
I grew-up with Tom´s brother Zach, in Falls Church and the three of us played baseball in the spring of 1965. I knew the three brothers beginning in 1964. I knew their mom and dad and was accepted in their home. Tom was a great pitcher on our team and he was serious about many things. His brothers said his name with a degree of awe. Like others who knew Tom in H.S., we lost touch when he returned to Austin, where his father was an Educator before moving the family to a suburb of Washington, D.C. to work for the federal government. Tom, and his brothers brought a new vocabulary to our circle of boys; the father was the "Gom", mother was "the biddy" and if someone got extremely angry - this was in 1964 - they were going "Rambo", many years before the movie of that name. Transplanted from Texas, with a pellet gun, when a flock of grackles took up residence in a back yard cherry tree that made such noise that Tom was awakened each morning, Tom went "Rambo" & declared "war."
Such were the ways of 14-17 year-old boys in 1964. I hold good memories of the three brothers & their parents. Today, they are all gone after impressing upon me a Texas way of seeing things after growing up in New Jersey. May God bless their brides and descendants & comfort them.
Lee
November 22, 2025
RIP DR Thomas Ewing Cotner the third
He always called me, brother
I lived upstairs at 505 Texas Ave., Austin, TX at the corner of Duvall for a couple of years
He was a collegiate baseball pitcher, Vietnam veteran, UT professor, authority on animal imagery in Shakespeare with a PhD., Conan the barbarian Frazetta art collector, storyteller,
Hard-core weight lifter, Hunter, hell of a wild game cook, biker, bouncer, he loved his homemade hot tub, enjoyed eating dinner with guest at his homemade dining room table that he cut off of a legacy oak that was a 4 inch slice made with his custom-made chainsaw with a 6 foot blade on the day. The tree rained hippies when they were starting to build the Irwin center. there was an 8 foot high privacy fence made of hand split cord wood made with a 20 pound sledgehammer and spike chisel around the entire property at his house., he was at the very least one of the smartest people I ever knew, and I was damn proud to be his running buddy and watch his back
In the time I knew" terrible Tom" I put on hundred pounds of muscle, he loved his bows his guns, his knives his beloved chowchow dog pack
What a unforgettable, complicated unique character
Carol Jane Hervey
December 13, 2024
My time with Tom was not very long. But I will never forget his sweet and kind demeanor. Praying that his rest is peaceful.
Hershell Peck aka "Fingers"
December 12, 2024
I knew Thomas. He was one hell of a good ol boy. When I met him he was a bouncer at the back room. Later I fixed his Harley when I worked at Hill
country Harley. We had some real good wrenches working there. One of who worked on Elvis Presely's Harley. No one could figure out what was making his motorcycle quit when he was riding it. But I had a Harley similar to his a few years before and it had the same problem. It only happened when he had a passenger. He came in one day and asked if I could fix his motorcycle. He described what was going on. I took a Phillips screw driver with me and said let's go. I got on the back of his bike and I could barley see around him. We didn't go far and he hit a bump and the motorcycle died. I took the screw driver and removed the seat, popped the circuit breaker back in it's holder and away we went. After that he called me fingers because he said I had to be the best motorcycle mechanic in the world, because nobody had been able to fix the problem. Not long after that I went to a Thunderbirds concert on my birthday. Thomas was working security. He said how you doin fingers. I said this is my birthday and I would like to meet the Thunderbirds. He said park your Harley in here and opened the gate. He took me and the girl that was with me backstage. we turned the corner and there stood Stevie Ray Vaughn. I was astounded. That birthday was one I will never forget. And for sure I will NEVER forget Thomas. He was a diamond in the rough. God bless you Thomas. Hershell
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Carol Hewitt Guida
June 19, 2022
I thank Tom for the very kind and reassuring message he wrote to me in my high school yearbook in1965, which I have now, at the age of 75 just returned to.
As that was the last I saw of him, I am also grateful for the words about him his friends since have written here.
It seems that Tom, like me, during those confusing formative teenage years, took refuge in the Falls Church Public Library, searching the wisdom of others in distant places or times.
His own few words to me - perceptions, observations, and compassion remain significant in my memory, and perhaps have contributed in some way to the miraculously fortunate life I have had.
I grieve for the tears, sadness, and afflictions that seem to have befallen him- my heart goes out to him & his family for what they have endured-
And yet in some way his presence was a blessing to me- I believe he was a special and good person.
This gives me a few thoughts about how I spend my volunteer time & funds in the time I have left- helping others in similar situations.
carol hewitt guida
high school classmate
Carol Jane Hervey
March 2, 2022
In memory of my friend Tom. He wanted a better world and did what he could
Carol Hervey
March 2, 2019
I hope Tom's family receives comfort in knowing Tom is in a place of peace, no more tears or sadness. The world was better with him in it, he did his best to make it that way. Thinking of him now with fond memories He was like no one else I ever knew. Rest In Peace, good soldier.
Greg Zeck
August 23, 2017
Tom was a fellow grad student at UT, back in the early 1970s. I briefly roomed with him, in fact, at 505 Texas Ave, where he would sit in bed for days on end, in PJs and UT baseball cap (he'd pitched for the team when an undergrad), reading one or another of those interminable Victorian novels. I know his later years were full of afflictions, but as others here say he was a large man, larger than life. We will miss him.
Carol Hervey
March 13, 2017
I was so sad to hear of Tom's passing. We were friends at U.T. in Austin, when we were very young. He was a dear and passionate person. I regret that I lost touch with him. My condolences to his family.
MICHAEL MITCHELL
March 8, 2017
Tom was always "larger than life" in just about everything he did! Truly a renaissance man!He leaves a void that will be unfilled ! There was only one!
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