Thomas J. ’Tom’ Day

Thomas Joseph Day was born March 11, 1936, in Minneapolis and passed away at his home in Fargo on Sunday, February 28, 2010, with his five children, loving attendants, and Hospice of the Red River Valley by his side. He grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota where he was a star athlete in football, basketball, and track at Detroit Lakes High School. On the unbeaten and top ranked football team of 1953, Tom averaged nearly ten yards per carry as a running back.Tom graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1954 and from North Dakota State University in 1964, a period of ten years he accounts for in Hidden Handicaps: Redemption and Triumph, the book he was so proud to have written. On July 21, 1977, Thomas J. Day was in a car accident that left him a quadriplegic for the last 33 years of his life. His strong faith, cherished relationships with family and so many dear friends, his passion for sports, and closing the next deal allowed for a life lived to the fullest. He championed his disability, as any good athlete would do, and made life richer for so many people by his positive "can do" attitude. He believed that he could live as full a life in a wheelchair as any full-bodied person could. He was an inspiration to many and loved by all who knew him.Tom is survived by his five children – Michael of St. Paul, Maren Mo Day-Woods of Fargo, Kathleen Kat Shane Day- Coen of Marine on St. Croix, MN, Joseph Jolene of Fargo, and Timothy Ramelle of Moorhead; former spouse – Lynda Coghlan Day; eleven grandchildren – Harrison, Ethan, Jackson, Ryder, Nico, Davian & Darick, Jackie, Alexandra, Samantha, and Drew, and three siblings – Catherine Al Campos, William Sue, and Patrick Diane. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Louise. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Spinal Cord Society or Hospice of the Red River Valley.