Writer, educator, musician and fly-fisherman, Tom Cosgrove succumbed to a battle against cancer after successfully fending off a series of physical challenges for 15 years, including three strokes, two heart attacks, prostate cancer, and a near-fatal battle with sepsis.

Thomas James Cosgrove was the eldest of eight children, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to William and Doreen Cosgrove in 1952. He attended University of Cincinnati for his undergraduate degree but left Ohio to attend the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, graduating with a MA in 1981. Earlier, he served in the Army, working as a drug and alcohol counselor in Stuttgart, Germany. After graduating from Medill he worked for many years as a magazine editor but changed direction in the 2000s, going back to school at National-Louis University to get an education degree and become a special education teacher.

He met Suzanne Damko Riordan at Medill. They were married in 1983 and had three children: Brendan James Riordan, Christopher Stephen Cosgrove and Kevin Thomas Cosgrove, and two grandchildren, Flynn Thomas Riordan and Mina Cosgrove Ikushima.

In addition to his children, he is survived by his seven siblings: Mary, William, John, Theresa, Gerard, Kathleen and Luke.

Visitation Wednesday, April 30th, 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m, Donnellan Family Funeral Services, 10045 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, Illinois.

Funeral Mass Thursday, May 1st, 10:00 a.m., St John XXIII Parish at St Nicholas Church, 806 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60202

Interment Maryhill Cemetery in Niles, Illinois. 

A passionate fisherman and self-described “nature nut,” the family asks donations be made to the World Wildlife Foundation in lieu of flowers.

info: donnellanfuneral.com or (847)675-1990