Who was Tom Bajo?
Tom was born and raised on the east side of Chicago where he later attended Loyola Medical school graduating in 1974. He moved to Phoenix to continue his career in critical care medicine, was married and had two children.
Family was at the heart of Tom’s life. Beyond his passions for medicine and the outdoors, Tom’s deepest enjoyment came from being with the ones he loved most. He continued to build his legacy as a doctor and a father for the next thirty years of his life.
DOCTOR, ADVENTURER, FATHER
A strong doctor, and even stronger friend.
Dr. Tom Bajo served as the leader of the medical ICU team at Good Samaritan and Banner University Medical Center from 1983 through 2014. Tom was a great doctor who always seemed to know the right action to take to help his patients. He had natural empathy for the suffering of patients and their families, and was self-sacrificing in his efforts to ease their pain, often quietly making small gifts to help in an hour of need.
Seizing the day in every way he could.
When he wasn’t in the hospital working, Tom enjoyed mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking on the regular. He would trek the local trails with his kids and grandkids on the weekends, and planned trips to the Grand Canyon (which he hiked rim to rim 9 times!).
However, Arizona was far from Tom’s limits for adventure. Multiple times a year, he would spend 2-3 weeks off the grid in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and even Ecuador kayaking with his friends.
Proud father and “bumpa” (grandpa).
Tom was a truly devoted father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He had an innate ability to sense the needs of others, going out of his way to check in on his friends, family, and co-workers frequently. Along with this tender disposition, Tom also had a bit of a mischievous side, often playing pranks or joking as a way of showing his affection.
This joy extended into every relationship in his life and has inspired us at TBE to live out these same ideals and ways of Tom.
Tom Bajo tragically passed away in a kayaking accident during the summer of 2017. We are continuing Tom’s legacy by helping patients in critical care and their loved ones stay connected. If you would like to participate in this mission, be sure to contact us or consider donating today.
-Tom