Thomas Richard Pitz

Thomas Richard Pitz, a warm and witty sales executive who sold everything from office products to magazine ads to outdoor advertising, died on September 20. Known to his family and friends as “T-Bone or Tommy P” he was 69 and for the past 35 years, resided in Indianapolis. An energetic athlete, he regularly took 20-mile bicycle rides, cooling off afterwards with a swim in his backyard pool. Last fall, he joined several friends on a three-day cycling trip during the Mountains to the Coast ride, a tour of North Carolina’s back roads. Tom loved to host the zip code bike gang in the back yard for a beer and a burger, always asking “how was everything?” wanting to ensure a wonderful experience at his pool lovingly named the Arden Country Club. His wide-ranging love for music included the Beatles, John Prine, Robert Cray, Van Morrison, James Taylor, Frank Sinatra and John Hiatt. He enjoyed live music at many concert venues in Indianapolis and once snuck a car full of kids into a concert saying, “I’m with the band.” He knew the words to every 70s hit and sang them loudly and off key. An Indianapolis native, he was born on Nov. 26, 1952, and was the son of the late Paul Pitz and Roseann Fogarty Pitz. The third eldest of six children, he grew up on the city’s west side. With his three brothers and two sisters, he spent his youth swimming at the Dolphin Club and every fall rooting for the Butler University Bulldogs during basketball games at Hinkle Fieldhouse. A lifelong sports fan, he attended Indianapolis Colts games. Besides following college basketball and professional baseball, he also was a devotee of horse racing, visiting tracks such as Churchill Downs and Keeneland in Kentucky as well as Latonia in Cincinnati. With an unmatched memory, Tom could tell you the winner of every Kentucky Derby and he loved helping friends handicap the race. After eight years of elementary education at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, he graduated in 1970 from Cathedral High School. In 1977, he earned a bachelor’s degree in urban planning, affectionately called bourbon planning, from Ball State University. He took time away from his college career to travel throughout the United States, visiting friends and family. Following the fashion of the 1970s, he wore clogs, corduroys, a beard and long brown hair. As a businessman, he cut a far more dapper figure, wearing navy sports jackets and classic ties. In November 1987, he married the love of his life Donna Lee Dwyer, then the sales manager for WENS Radio 97. At the time of his marriage, Tom worked in the sales and marketing department for the Rolodex Corp. In 1990, he welcomed his first child, a daughter, Molly Dwyer. It was Tom’s greatest joy being a father and he was thrilled to welcome a son, Ryan Paul, in 1993. Tom enjoyed coaching Ryan in baseball and watching Molly cheer on the sidelines of Cathedral sports. As a family, they loved vacationing at the beach and in the mountains. Tom was a life-long adventurer who was always up for a great meal or exploring a new place. The lakes of Michigan always stole his heart. From 1998 through 2011, he worked at Emmis Communications, selling advertising for Indianapolis Monthly Magazine. In his travels throughout the city, he became a connoisseur of fine restaurants and the cappuccino served at local coffee shops. He was a member of the Emmis Communications President’s Club and his nickname was Million Dollar Man. From 2011 to 2020, Tom sold outdoor advertising for Lamar, retiring at age 66 to enjoy the things he loved most in life – his family, his friends, traveling, and of course his bicycle. His favorite part of retirement was caring for his grandsons Rowan Thomas and Finley Ryan every Tuesday. He pretended to not be a “dog guy” but Tom loved taking long walks with his dogs, most recently his affectionate Bernedoodle, Murphy, the “second worse dog he ever owned.” Tom will be remembered for sporting a mustache that would make Tom Selleck green with envy. He had a smile that lit up a room and the way he said your name made you feel like you were the only person who mattered. He valued family above all else and everyone whom he met called him a friend. He is survived by his wife, Donna; a daughter, Molly Hess and her husband, Connor, and their two sons, Rowan and Finley Hess and one son, Ryan Paul Pitz. Tom’s five siblings survive him including sisters: Janeann Pitz and her husband, Reinhard Pollach, Marylynne Pitz and her husband, Mark Weitzman; brothers, Paul Nicholas Pitz and his wife, Barbara, Michael Pitz and his wife, Fay and John Pitz and his wife, Jill. Also surviving are his nephews: Andrew Pitz, Michael Pitz, Jacob Pitz, and Parker Dwyer and nieces, Megan Pitz, Lauren Pitz-Goncalves (Renan), Annie Brock, and Emily Dwyer. He is also survived by Trish Brock, sister in-law. Services will be held Friday September 30, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 6050 N Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN with visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mental Health America or Holliday Park Foundation.

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Thomas Richard Pitz

November 26, 1952 - September 20, 2022