08/22/2026
Remembering Our Dear Friend Tom Frisby❤️
There are some people who come into your life for a reason, and Tom was one of those people.
Tom and his wife, Christine, became our friends through Vanessa’s Big Heart Foundation, the charity we started after the loss of our second daughter, Vanessa, to a heart condition.
Around 2008, Tom decided to run the upcoming Houston Marathon encourage by his daughter Vanessa, who had always done a lot of charity work in Florida and encouraged Tom to pick a charity to run for and add some meaning and purpose to his run. Tom scrolled through the list of charities associated with the marathon and came across “Vanessa’s Big Heart Foundation” and knew it was meant to be. Reading our story about our Vanessa and our purpose to turn our heartbreak into something good for other children touched his heart. He then reached out to us and was further certain he picked the right charity after finding out that Ron and I lived in his neighborhood.
It’s hard to say how much Tom raised over the following 6 to 7 years we were associated with the Houston Marathon, and that’s because you can’t just look at how much he raised directly. You have to also consider the numerous runners he recruited from colleagues and coworkers to local acquaintances and also his own kids, Rush, Beau and Vanessa along with Vanessa‘s husband, Michael, and not just once but multiple times.
Pretty early on after his first race with us, Tom asked me a question that would change my life: “Are you going to run with us next year?”
I laughed and told him, “No! I’m not a runner. I can’t run.”
Tom simply said, “Sure you can. If you want to, I’ll train you.”
And he did. With a training schedule in hand.
He started meeting me early in the mornings, taking me on short runs and patiently teaching me how to run. I struggled. There were plenty of days when I didn’t think I could do it. I would have my youngest daughter Vivian in the stroller with me, and sometimes I simply couldn’t finish the miles Tom had planned.
So Tom would take over, push the stroller for me, and encourage me to keep going.
He never let me believe that I couldn’t do it.
Because of Tom, I ran my first marathon. Something I never thought I could do became one of the most incredible experiences of my life so I did it 3 times with several Half Marathons sprinkled in.
At one point Tom & I had a small group running together throughout the neighborhood. Those morning runs became memories I will always treasure.
Christine, his wife, was the best support crew a team could hope for and Tom relied heavily on her. She was always there with encouraging signs for our races, each persons support packet ready to go with Gu packets, gatorade, Band-Aids, Tylenol, toenail, clippers & toilet paper, and a number of items most would never think of (it’s amazing what some people find themselves needing midway through a 26 mile run). All that while also being our team photographer and getting 100’s of great photos.
Tom and Christine were up early at every race, among the first to arrive and the last to leave, cheering on our runners and supporting our team every step of the way.
Tom and Christine became so much more than great supporters of Vanessa’s Big Heart Foundation, they became great friends. We attended numerous neighborhood parties with them, celebrating Birthdays, Holidays and fun Halloween party’s where Tom was such a great sport to let Christine dress him up.
We also can’t forget our numerous combined Family Ski Vacations that will always be treasured memories.
Those are the thoughts that run through my mind when I think of Tom:
A devoted husband.
A wonderful father.
A loyal friend.
A man with a big heart.
Tom’s friendship came into our lives through our greatest heartbreak, and somehow, through that heartbreak, he helped create some of our happiest memories.
Until we meet again, friend. Run free. 🏃♂️❤️
To Christine, Rush, Vanessa, Beau and all the grandkids and family…may Tom’s memories bring you joy and strength in the days & years to come. He will never be forgotten.
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