Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.

Dear Maryellen  Tim and family. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.god bless you all!  

 Debbe and John tuttle

Whenever my cousin Tom entered a room, he made it brighter, lighter and filled with laughter. I will miss Tommy for his big heart, his sense of humor and sharp wit. My love and sympathy are with Tom's wife and children and to my cousins and their families. 

How lucky we've been to have Tommy in our lives.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all Tom's family and friends. So sorry for your loss.

Tom, as a Senior at ND, began my first night Frosh indoctrination while returning from a local watering hole with other notables to Grace Hall for the evening. Third in line behind Mike McCoy (6'6", 295 lbs. and barrel-chested),Tom Lawson (6'5" 265 lbs and normal chested) was Tom (6'0" and 265 lbs and round chested). He immediately 'suggested' that I could run downstairs to the basement from our 11th floor (elevators weren't yet operational) to Food Sales to help cure the night's munchies. Apparently, my jaw had dropped as low as the light level as these three caromed & squeezed by my hallway door, when Tommy informed me of my food quest, and helped me relax for the next day's practice with the big boys, gleefully explaining that he and Lawson were SECOND team ... I should see the first! (It's hard to write a giant giggle, but I can still hear it!) It's also hard to write a cartoonish gulp, among other cleansing sounds, coming from me.

What a gift to make the world laugh ... no, not laugh, guffaw! I only hope I'm lucky enough to get the suite next to his one more time; I promise no more complainin' about Food Sales!

Bless the Nash Family; at the Grotto, always light the big one ... must be Our Lady's motto, too.

Notre Dame has lost a true Son of Ara.

MaryEllen and family, so very sorry for your loss. May all your happy memories help dry your tears and bring you comfort.

Tom, at least to me, was one of those guys who just had an aura about him that was always positive, despite what might be going on around him.  You couldn't help but feel good in his company.  As a teammate he kept the atmosphere loose on the field and in the locker room.  I thought he was unbelievably quick witted and could have you in stitches regardless of your own mood.  I think he was a favorite of Ara's as Coach seemed to mess with him a lot, just like he did with Dushney.  

Mary Pat & I offer our sincerest condolences to his family and especially to his good friend Tom Lawson who will miss him as family.  Those two were like Hope & Crosby at school.

It's that time of life when you just never know, so I know Tom would want the rest of us to take a pause, step back and enjoy the remaining time we have with family and friends during our fall period of our lives.

Dewey & Mary Pat

Tom was a teammate, classmate and friend.  My fondest memory was our trip to the University of Illinois our Freshman year.  As Freshmen could not play, we went to visit my parents who live around 45 minutes from the U of I and had dinner and a "few" beverages prior to going to the campus.  This may have been the only time in her life that my mother ever came close to running out of either food or drink, but I'm pretty sure that Tom was full when he left.

Rest in peace, "Big Chopper"! 

From "Little Chopper"

T. Nash as I called him, was a teammate who I will never forget. He definitely was one of the good guys.  He always made everyone feel good, a real pleasure to be around. My heart goes out to his beloved family. Please accept my sympathy. I will keep you all and Tom in my prayers.  May God bless you always.

One of the things that I've always loved most about my own father is his own true, loyal love for his extended family of Notre Dame brothers. I understood everything so much more when I first met Tom Nash many (many!) years ago, and it's safe to say that I had some belly laughs too. He was such a gentle giant, the nicest and most fun man. Peoples' faces light up even talking about him, and I can't imagine a greater gift to give the world. He will be truly missed but strongly remembered in the kinships he created. My love goes out to the ND clan and his wonderful family-Jill, Jack, and Kailey. He was the greatest. 

Xoxo
Meredith McDermott

I was two years behind Tom at Holy Cross HS and ran track with him.  As a number of my classmates have written he was legendary not only for his athletic prowess, but also for being a very good and likable guy.  Here is what a few of my classmates have shared.

 Just found out that Tom Nash has passed away. Tom was Holy Cross's legendary running back on the year we won the City Championship 1966 and was selected First Team All American and went to Notre Dame on a full scholarship. Tom retired in Federal Law enforcement from the Secret Service and DIS. Please remember Tom and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

An iconic figure, larger than life. I still remember the Parade magazine story

A great athlete and a great guy, a true Holy Cross man. Number 33.  A classic line by the announcer at Holy Cross home games:"Nash carrying the ball tackled by the Stepinac line".

I remember being on the practice field with the Varsity as a freshman and Coach O'Meara taking the backs over to do drills with the big guys. I was chosen to go against Tom Nash on a one on one tackling drill ( Two blocking dummies set on the ground creating a 5 yard lane to get through ) The whistle blew and I ran as low as possible under this giant and made it past him. That was great until Bro. Ellis chided Tom about the little freshman getting past him, so they gave him another try (lucky me). The second time was a little different in that I got thrown back about 3 yards (not the last time I would be tossed around on that field.)  He was a great player and I along with all the football team was very impressed when he got a deal with Notre Dame. He did come back and talk to the football teams when I was on JV and explained the practices and depth chart at a D 1 program. One day you could be the number 2 running back, have a bad practice and find yourself Number 8 the next day on the 120 man roster. Great stuff I remember to this day. He was a nice guy and a great role model as I look back at my experiences at H.C.


One of the Tom Nash stories I remember is that he wrote letters to the Holy Cross Brothers when he was at ND. One time he described how he threw a cross-body block at Alan Page. Page caught him and threw him to the ground 

1965 Parade All American Team a well-deserved honor for Tom.

I was a band member freshman and sophomore year.  We marched on the field at halftime for every home game.  I think it was the Mt St Michael game in '66 that we played in November.  It had rained on Saturday night, so when Sunday morning came, the field was an ocean of mud after the first quarter.  Not to worry.  We marched out slipping and sliding.  After doing our routine (forming the shape of a football and playing songs), we marched off.  Once off the field, I looked down at my muddy wet shoes and stained band uniform.  I began to complain about how I would never be able to get them clean again.  I looked up, and there was Tom Nash in all his glory, covered from head to toe in mud and slime.  He had already gained something like 125 yards.  He laughed and said, “that mud really sucks, doesn't it”.  I laughed, wished him good luck and headed to the stands.  All we heard all afternoon from the announcer was “Tom Nash tackled by the Mt St Michael line…”.  Tom Nash and Thomas Harris really were Big Men on Campus…

Even in these sad times, I can't help but think of Tom and smile.  Just a few short weeks ago, I sat on the phone with him and laughed to the point of tears as we told nearly fifty years worth of stories . . . some actually with an element of truth in them.  That's the way it always was with Tommy.  His larger than life persona just enveloped you and made the world a better place. The real truth behind it all is that I loved this man and our friendship transcended into brotherhood long ago.  My deepest condolences go to his loving family and I pray that the Good Lord will watch over and comfort them. You have an extended family of those of us who loved Tom that I beg you never forget are here for you always. Tom, I assume you will be replacing St. Peter soon at Heaven's Gate so, when the time comes,please try to slip a few of your old pals inside so we might laugh with you once again.

Tom was a teammate and classmate of mine .We were in same dorm our freshman year.We could always relay on Tom to keep the mood light no matter how difficult the situation.
Jill,
My thoughts and prayers for you and your family.I know that Faith, Family and Friends are very important especially during this time.
May the Peace of Christ reign in your life.
Mike McCoy
2 Timothy 1:7

I met Tom in 1970, as a high school senior visiting Notre Dame to see if I should enroll there.   I stayed with Tom, Mike McCoy, Don McDermott and Richie Lueke in Grace Hall.  Tom went out of his way to make me feel welcome, and to make sure that I fit in.  He had a great sense of humor and a way about him that made people feel comfortable.    I was proud to know him!   Bless is soul and may he rest in peace.

Tom was my teammate and my great pal. Being around him always put a smile on my face...and everyone else's.  I am sure this will continue to be the case in his new neighborhood.

Tom was an exceptional athlete and an important part of our Notre Dame Fooball Team. Tom was looked up to and admired by those of us who were his teammates.

Tom always seemed larger than life to me from when I first met him as a little boy to the last time I saw him.  Tom and my father were lifelong friends since their days at Notre Dame, but I always considered Tom to be my buddy too.  He was just that kind of person; accepting and welcoming to all.  My memories of him will be constant smiling and non stop laughing until I couldn't breathe.  A person of his quality and greatness will be missed by many but his legacy will live on through the enormous impact he had on the lives of those he cared about.  I will miss you.

Mr. Nash was like a brother to my Dad, Don McDermott, and, although I have not seen him in too many years, I always considered him an uncle. The laughter and joy he brought to my family and father will never be forgotten. Nor will his huge heart, kindness and positivity. May his talents and truly special spirit live on through his beautiful family and all those whose lives he touched. He will be missed.

Tom was larger than life to me ever since I first met him.  Although I know him because he was a lifelong friend of my father's at Notre Dame, I considered him to be my friend as well.  My memories of him consist of constant smiling and laughing until I couldn't breathe any more.  He will be missed by many, but a man of his quality and greatness will live forever through the impact he had on the lives of those he cared about.  I'm honored to have know and spent time with him.

I was at Holy Cross HS when Tom was there. I was one year ahead of him and I remember the spirit and skill he brought to school teams, specially the football team. He was a gentle giant, very approachable. I ran into him a few years after college and he was the same kind, positive person.

I was a teammate and classmate of Tom's at Holy Cross High School. Tom had an enormous personality which fit his HS All American Football frame. I'm proud to have known him and shared our glory days  in the CHSFL from 1962-1966. He was a class leader as well as a leader in our class. I will always remember the many enjoyable times we had together. He will be missed by us all. Rest in peace my friend . To live in the hearts of those you leave behind is not to die.

Tom and his senior classmates were like heroes to us freshman football players at Holy Cross High School. Despite his status, Tom was accessible and warm. For years I kept a copy of the Parade Magizine issue that named him to the high school all-American team.Got to chat with Tom at the Blasters get together in NYC a couple of years ago...a regular guy who threw off a ton of positive vibes....Bill Catone, HC High School, Class of 68

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Thomas John Nash

5 avril 1948 – 19 novembre 2014

Eternal Hills Mortuary & Crematory at Eternal Hills Memorial Park

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