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Thomas Woodruff Whitney
1950-2025
Thomas Woodruff Whitney passed away peacefully with his family by his side after living his final years with grace.
The youngest of three children, Tom was born to Frank Mumford Whitney, Jr. and Marjorie Woodruff Whitney. “Tommy” grew up on the Avenues of Salt Lake City, with the nearby U campus as his playground. He enjoyed an idyllic childhood – hiking, skiing, traveling, playing tennis, swimming in the backyard pool, sleeping with his siblings Woody and Ann on the sleeping porch, and, as Zorro, jumping from roof to roof in the neighborhood. Through summers spent at family cabins in Brighton and the Pines Ranch on the Smith & Morehouse River, and visits to Big Springs, Idaho, Tom developed a deep love and respect for nature and wildlife, which continued to increase throughout his life, especially over many years spent at Hebgen Lake, Montana.
Tom attended Wasatch Elementary, Bryant Junior High, and East High School in Salt Lake City, the same three schools that his father attended years earlier. During his school years, Tom formed lasting friendships.
Tom served in the French East Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), which included portions of French-speaking Switzerland, an experience that deeply impacted him. A true Francophile, Tom returned to France throughout his life with each of his children and most recently with his wife Ann and all of his children and their spouses to celebrate his 70th birthday.
While attending the University of Utah, Tom associated with Beta Theta Pi fraternity and graduated with a degree in political science-international relations and a minor in French. In later years, Tom served on the University of Utah Alumni and the Crimson Club Boards.
Throughout his career, Tom worked in property management and spent 20 years with Wells Fargo before retiring.
Tom loved grizzly bears, Golden Retrievers, The Beach Boys, and Utah Football. He also enjoyed art, wildlife photography, and pasta. His perfect day consisted of a hike to a remote, alpine lake with his family, enjoying a simple backpacker’s lunch, and stretching out on a large, granite rock and taking a nap with the warm sun on his face.
Tom was a sensitive soul who loved his family deeply. He was creative, fun-loving, adventurous, a prankster, and a tease at times. Coming from parents with rich, LDS pioneer heritages, Tom remained an active member of the LDS Church throughout his life, serving in many positions, including as an advisor to the men’s LDS fraternity at the University of Utah.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Ann Jardine Bardsley Whitney, daughter Rebecca Whitney (James Ginther), daughter Emily Nestman (Trent), son Tommy Whitney (Jenny) and seven grandchildren: Jack Nestman, Rachel Ginther, Charlie Nestman, Frank Nestman, Brooke Whitney, Kate Whitney, and Blair Whitney. Tom is also survived by siblings Frank Woodruff “Woody” Whitney (Bonnie) and Ann Whitney Floor and by Ann’s children - Caitlin Fowler (Richard), Alex Bardsley (Sarah), and Jake Bardsley (Diana), and by grandchildren and nieces and nephews all of whom he adored.
The Whitneys would like to express appreciation to the many family members, friends, and neighbors who showed an outpouring of love and support to Tom and the family throughout his life – but especially since his diagnosis of vascular dementia – and to those who cared for Tom in his final days, caregiver Alessandra (Ali) Costa and the staff at Spring Gardens and Inspiration Home Health.
A visitation will be held Sunday, January 12, 2025, from 6-8 p.m., at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Dr., Millcreek, UT 84106.
A visitation will also be held in the Parley’s Third Ward, 2615 E. Stringham Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84109, prior to the funeral on Monday, January 13, 2025, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. A funeral will follow at the ward chapel at 11 a.m. Following the funeral, interment will take place at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 N. St. E., Salt Lake City, UT 84103.
obituary link: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/millcreek-ut/thomas-whitney-12157636
To view the service online please follow the link below:
https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c2501878361881
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Save the Yellowstone Grizzly Foundation.
https://savetheyellowstonegrizzly.networkforgood.com/projects/154064-help-save-the-yellowstone-grizzly https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/millcreek-ut/thomas-whitney-12157636
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