University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Mourns the Passing of Tom Richards
10/29/2021 8:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Thomas E. Richards died on Oct. 28, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following a hard-fought battle with cancer. He leaves behind a heartbroken but adoring family—including his wife, Mary Beth, daughter Lindsay and son Jason—as well as legions of loved ones, friends and colleagues from around the world.
It is hardly hyperbole to say that Tom lived a life that was too full—and too big—to capture in a few short paragraphs. Born on Nov. 8, 1954, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Tom was a chronic overachiever, scoring 63 points in his final basketball game for Moon High School. After graduation, he took his talents to the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as the starting point guard for the Panthers and enjoyed a particularly magical 1973-74 season marked by a 22-game winning streak and a departure from the big dance just three games shy of a national championship.
Tom also met his greatest teammate on the basketball court—Mary Beth (nee Dorogy) stole his heart in high school, joined him at Pitt, scored his hand in marriage and celebrated every victory during their 43-year partnership. Among their greatest accomplishments: sharing, loving and raising their two children together.
In 1976, during his senior year at Pitt, Tom earned the prestigious Blue-Gold Award—which celebrates student-athletes who epitomize excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and citizenship—and had his name etched into the Varsity Walk that connects the Cathedral of Learning to Heinz Memorial Chapel on the University's Pittsburgh campus.
Later that year, Tom graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and unofficial minors in working hard and staying humble. He developed a daily and lifelong habit of studying the Bible—a resource that he would come to call the greatest leadership book ever written—and found unremitting comfort and joy in his close relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
After earning a master's degree in management from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tom spent 45 years shaking up the technology industry. Early career stops include a nearly two-decade run at Bell Atlantic and turns serving as the executive vice president of Ameritech, chairman and chief executive officer of Clear Communications, and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Quest Communications.
In 2009, Tom joined CDW and assumed the roles of president and chief executive officer two years later. Here, his career wins continued. Under Tom's watch, CDW's annual revenue rose from $9.6 billion in 2011 to more than $16 billion at the time of his retirement in 2018. In 2013, he led CDW's IPO, growing the company's market capitalization by nearly $12 billion in just five years. A model of servant leadership, Tom's legacy is one of humility, high standards and an unwavering belief in the potential of the team. Not surprisingly, his CDW colleagues voted him as one of Glassdoor's highest-rated CEOs list for three years running.
While building a successful career, loving family and worldwide network of friends and colleagues, Tom kept close ties with Pittsburgh—and Pitt. In 2001, he and Mary Beth founded Little Panthers, an organization in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, devoted to teaching boys and girls how to play basketball. The couple were also frequent fans in the stands at Pitt Athletics events and established the Tom and Mary Beth Richards Men's Basketball Scholarship in 2011.
Tom's love of Pitt collided with his passion for leadership in 2011, when he was elected to the University's Board of Trustees. In the years that followed, Tom served on several committees, including the Athletics Committee, Audit Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee. He also chaired the Risk and Compliance Committee for five years and was a member of the School of Information Sciences Board of Visitors. In 2019, Tom was voted by his peers as chair-elect of the Board and assumed the role of chair in 2020 before being elected to the position again in 2021.
Tom's contributions to the community extend well beyond Pitt's campus. He joined UPMC's Board in 2019 and assumed the role of First Vice Chairperson in 2020. Outside of Pittsburgh, Tom served on the Board of Directors of Northern Trust and Bell Canada and was a member of the Economic and Executives' clubs of Chicago. He was also a former trustee of Rush University Medical Center and particularly fond of his contributions as a board member and chairman of Junior Achievement of Chicago—a nonprofit that leverages company partnerships to help connect young people thrive economically and academically.
The Richards family is hosting a visitation for friends at the John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc., on Nov. 10 and 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on both dates. A memorial service and public celebration of Tom's life is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, at Heinz Memorial Chapel in Pittsburgh.
It is hardly hyperbole to say that Tom lived a life that was too full—and too big—to capture in a few short paragraphs. Born on Nov. 8, 1954, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Tom was a chronic overachiever, scoring 63 points in his final basketball game for Moon High School. After graduation, he took his talents to the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as the starting point guard for the Panthers and enjoyed a particularly magical 1973-74 season marked by a 22-game winning streak and a departure from the big dance just three games shy of a national championship.
Tom also met his greatest teammate on the basketball court—Mary Beth (nee Dorogy) stole his heart in high school, joined him at Pitt, scored his hand in marriage and celebrated every victory during their 43-year partnership. Among their greatest accomplishments: sharing, loving and raising their two children together.
In 1976, during his senior year at Pitt, Tom earned the prestigious Blue-Gold Award—which celebrates student-athletes who epitomize excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and citizenship—and had his name etched into the Varsity Walk that connects the Cathedral of Learning to Heinz Memorial Chapel on the University's Pittsburgh campus.
Later that year, Tom graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and unofficial minors in working hard and staying humble. He developed a daily and lifelong habit of studying the Bible—a resource that he would come to call the greatest leadership book ever written—and found unremitting comfort and joy in his close relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
After earning a master's degree in management from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tom spent 45 years shaking up the technology industry. Early career stops include a nearly two-decade run at Bell Atlantic and turns serving as the executive vice president of Ameritech, chairman and chief executive officer of Clear Communications, and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Quest Communications.
In 2009, Tom joined CDW and assumed the roles of president and chief executive officer two years later. Here, his career wins continued. Under Tom's watch, CDW's annual revenue rose from $9.6 billion in 2011 to more than $16 billion at the time of his retirement in 2018. In 2013, he led CDW's IPO, growing the company's market capitalization by nearly $12 billion in just five years. A model of servant leadership, Tom's legacy is one of humility, high standards and an unwavering belief in the potential of the team. Not surprisingly, his CDW colleagues voted him as one of Glassdoor's highest-rated CEOs list for three years running.
While building a successful career, loving family and worldwide network of friends and colleagues, Tom kept close ties with Pittsburgh—and Pitt. In 2001, he and Mary Beth founded Little Panthers, an organization in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, devoted to teaching boys and girls how to play basketball. The couple were also frequent fans in the stands at Pitt Athletics events and established the Tom and Mary Beth Richards Men's Basketball Scholarship in 2011.
Tom's love of Pitt collided with his passion for leadership in 2011, when he was elected to the University's Board of Trustees. In the years that followed, Tom served on several committees, including the Athletics Committee, Audit Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee. He also chaired the Risk and Compliance Committee for five years and was a member of the School of Information Sciences Board of Visitors. In 2019, Tom was voted by his peers as chair-elect of the Board and assumed the role of chair in 2020 before being elected to the position again in 2021.
Tom's contributions to the community extend well beyond Pitt's campus. He joined UPMC's Board in 2019 and assumed the role of First Vice Chairperson in 2020. Outside of Pittsburgh, Tom served on the Board of Directors of Northern Trust and Bell Canada and was a member of the Economic and Executives' clubs of Chicago. He was also a former trustee of Rush University Medical Center and particularly fond of his contributions as a board member and chairman of Junior Achievement of Chicago—a nonprofit that leverages company partnerships to help connect young people thrive economically and academically.
The Richards family is hosting a visitation for friends at the John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc., on Nov. 10 and 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on both dates. A memorial service and public celebration of Tom's life is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, at Heinz Memorial Chapel in Pittsburgh.
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