Thomas Andrew Vargo, MD

Tom was born to Andrew and Roberta Vargo on September 18, 1937, in Los Angeles, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree from George Pepperdine University in 1959 and his medical degree from UCLA in 1963. He completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, where he met his future wife and the love of his life, Connie. She would be a peaceful and enduring presence throughout his years. After playfully asking her several times whether she liked his blue eyes, Tom proposed, and they were married on November 28, 1964. From 1966 to 1968, he served in the United States Air Force in the Pediatric Service at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. Following his military service, Tom and Connie settled in Houston, Texas, where they raised their three sons. A devoted lifelong learner, Dr. Vargo completed a fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine in 1970 and pursued postgraduate education in myocardiobiology in 1971. During his tenure at Baylor College of Medicine, he was named Outstanding Faculty Member in 1976 and Distinguished Professor in 1977.

Tom served as a pediatric cardiologist at Texas Children’s Hospital for 55 years and was one of the founding physicians of both the Pediatric Cardiology Program and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. He also served for eight years as Program Director of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program. Into his later years, Dr.Vargo continued interpreting pediatric echocardiograms and remained deeply engaged in his field. Over the course of his remarkable career, he contributed to more than 20 publications and supervised over 400 trainees during his 28 years as program director across three different Baylor residency programs. Upon his retirement in July 2024, he was honored with the title of Distinguished Emeritus Professor. Dr. Vargo will always be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his patients and for the compassionate, reassuring conversations he shared with their families. In recognition of his extraordinary commitment to patient care, teaching, and the encouragement of others’ growth and success, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and a lecture hall at Texas Children’s Hospital were named in his honor.

Tom was well known for his playful sense of humor, unexpected upon first meeting him, yet revealed through his quiet one-liners, which he would smile at even if no one else noticed. He had a remarkable way of making everyone feel seen, remembering the smallest details with genuine care. His manner was both playful and gracious, always guided by the best of intentions. A pioneer in his field, Tom delighted in helping others excel, fostering a spirit of community and excellence wherever he went. Many knew of his aviation adventures, where he would take transcontinental flights simply to turn around and fly straight back home. He loved traveling by airplane around the world, often reminding others to “get to the airport three hours before departure.” He enjoyed spending time at his beach house in Galveston, and, most of all, being with his family and friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Connie; his brother, Joseph (Jacki); his sons, Thomas (Cheryl), Robert (Kathryn), and Michael (Dawnery); and his grandchildren, Nora Vargo, Lydia Vargo, Andrew Vargo, Anna Vargo, Nolan Dombrowski (Megs), Karlee Steele (Hayden), Graycen Vargo, and Alyssa Vargo. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Mac Dombrowski, Kay Dombrowski, Alaina Steele, and Tanner Steele, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Roberta Vargo, and his brother, Robert Vargo.

A Celebration of Life will be held on February 7, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Earthman’s Funeral Home in Bellaire. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to the Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric Cardiology Department at https://texaschildrens.org/thomasvargo