Thomas Conrad Czarnecki

Tom was born on October 13, 1966, the son of Olga and Stephen Czarnecki. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois and was very close with his two sisters (Ann Edmonson, Vicky (Chris) Ackermann) and extended family. Tom continued on to live in many other places including Milan, Costa Mesa, Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. He enjoyed cruising to the beach, spending time with friends and family, driving around with 80s music playing, and telling stories at every chance. In 1999, Tom married Constance, and became stepfather to Caitlin (Zach) Smith, Christopher Nobel, and Nicholas (Nicolette) Nobel and soon welcomed daughter Mia Czarnecki.

Coach, mentor, teacher, and peer to many, Tom spent much of his personal and professional life devoted to bringing out the best in others. As a classroom teacher, he was known for his reading of Roald Dahl with unique and exciting character voices. Tom also spent over 30 years playing and coaching wheelchair basketball where he gained many lifelong friends and travel competition stories. Later in his career, Tom continued his lifelong commitment to helping others as a job coach, providing guidance, encouragement, and support as his clients worked to find meaningful employment and succeed in the workplace. Tom had a lasting impact on the lives of those he taught, coached, and supported.

No matter the venue, Tom could always be found cheering people on. He was known for his dedication to his teams and rarely missed an Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, Arizona State University, or Arizona Cardinals game. He could often be spotted cheering on the Diamondbacks at the stadium. Tom took special pride in watching his children (Caitlin, Nicholas, Christopher, and Mia) grow and compete towards their goals. Later as “Papa TC” he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren (Kayden, Haylee, Paige, Blake, Declan, Noelle, Opal, Onyx, and Claire) and cheered them on as they played in a variety of sports.

Tom is survived and remembered by his extended family including his nieces and nephews, as well as their children: Emily (George, Georgie and Stephen), Amanda (Jon, RJ and Beau), Connor (Soleil), & Maddie. Tom will also be missed by his beloved dog and loyal companion Emeril, affectionately known as “Knucklehead”.

To honor his coaching legacy and in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following organization: Ability 360 https://ability360.org/donate/

Celebration of Life:

Date: Saturday, November 7th 4-6pm

Location: Ability 360

5031 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Details: Please wear your favorite sports gear. Food and refreshments will be provided. There will be time to mingle, speak if you have anything to share, and try your hand at basketball. Parking is available for free attached to Ability360