Thomas “Tom” Cosgrove

Thomas “Tom” Cosgrove

Age 96, of Fox Chapel passed away on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Beloved husband of 66 years to the late Josephine Brent Cosgrove; loving father of Sallie B. Cosgrove of Kalamazoo, MI; brother of J. Casey Cosgrove (Paula) of Lake Bluff, IL and the late William H. Cosgrove, Jr. (Cam), Mary Cosgrove McKean (Skip) of Oakmont, and Mark Cosgrove; brother-in-law of the late Sallie Brent, Camille Mainwaring (Bill) and Lawrence Brent; also survived by many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grand nephews.

Tom was born in Pittsburgh to William H. and Elizabeth K. Cosgrove. He graduated from Shady Side Academy in 1942 and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh the same year. He enlisted in the US Army in March 1943. He completed his basic training at Food Hood, TX before being deployed to England in September 1944 and Germany in November 1944. Captured that same year, during the Battle of the Bulge, he was marched to and held in an Austrian POW camp until released by the guards one day prior to the arrival of the Allied Troops. After returning home, he completed his education, graduating from Carnegie Tech (Carnegie Mellon University) in 1953, and began work as an industrial steel engineer, becoming a Vice President for Swindell Dressler Company (later Wheelabrator-Frye Corp.) where he remained for his entire career.

He could always be found sporting a Brook’s Brother’s suit with an oxford cloth shirt, monogramed cuff links and a linen handkerchief.  He was a history buff and avid reader; his library piled high with books about Pittsburgh and World War II. He devoured every edition of the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Post-Gazette; clipping and sending noteworthy articles to others that he thought might enjoy them. 

He enjoyed a good round of golf and dinner out with friends and family.  He embraced his wife Jo’s career as both a nurse and an educator and he loved her fiercely. He took great pride in his daughter Sallie, supporting her love of animals, her equestrian pursuits and her career in veterinary medicine. 

 A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 24th at 3:30 p.m. at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden, 384 Fox Chapel Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15238,  followed by a Celebration of Life at the Pittsburgh Field Club, 121 Field Club Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 at 4:15 p.m. All are welcome to attend the Memorial Service and the Celebration of Life. The family requests that you please RSVP by Monday, September 20, 2021 to attend the Celebration  of Life, please either send email to sallie.b.cosgrove@gmail.com or call 269-217-0592.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Rotary Club of Fox Chapel: PO Box 38452, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, The Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center (in association with the Smithsonian Institution) 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or the animal-related charity of your choice.

Arrangements by WEDDELL-AJAK FUNERAL HOME, Aspinwall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas “Tom” Cosgrove, please visit our floral store.