He was born in Saginaw, Michigan on February 25th, 1950, to Thomas F. LaDrigue and Rosella E (Cochran) LaDrigue. He attended Holy Family Grade School and Saginaw High School. He served as a medic in the Vietnam War and when he returned, found joy being a Tennis Pro at Bay Valley Tennis Academy for many years while obtaining an Associate in Liberal Arts at Delta College. His day-to-day work was filled with walking in the community of Saginaw Township as a mail carrier for 20 years, with a brief period as a chef after taking a few Le Cordon Bleu courses.
In addition to playing tennis, he had an extreme passion in fitness for sport. In his early 50s, he was inspired to study sports medicine to improve the athleticism of his community. He held certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Performance Enhancement Specialist; The Institute of Human Performance – Functional Training Specialist; Nike 360 Golf and Gray Institute GIFT fellow; CHEK Institute of Performance; among many others from the elite movement specialists around the world. He practiced his craft working with the Saginaw Valley State University Men’s Basketball team, Delta College Athletics, Four Flags Tennis Club, and Potential Energy Athletic Club, before moving to Lifetime Fitness in Rochester Hills for 20 years. He was a talented healer, coach, and educator that changed the lives of many athletes, clients, and co-workers.
Tom was married to Barbara-Hughes-LaDrigue from 1980-1986, in which he had two children, Shane and Megan. He was happiest spending time with them going to the theater, cinema, on bike rides, and training sessions. He had a dry sense of humor and a particular ordering style at a restaurant. Whether you liked him or not upon initial meeting, he always seemed to grow on you with his authentic charisma. He experienced traumas early in life that stunted his emotional expression, but he deeply cared for everyone in his life.
He was survived by Shane A LaDrigue and wife Cristi, Megan M LaDrigue, his sister Anette M Kogut and husband Leonard, and nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Victoria A. Nugent.
Thomas will be laid to rest next to his mother and sister at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Saginaw, Michigan in a private family service.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pixleyfh.com for the LaDrigue family.
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