Memorial Service for Longtime Wheaton Warrenville South Running Coach is This Weekend

Photo source: Wheaton Warrenville South Girls Cross Country and Track & Field Facebook page

A long-time cross-country coach and science teacher at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School died last week at the age of 61 after a two-year battle with lymphoma, the Daily Herald reports.

Tom Todd died Wednesday afternoon at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, according to the newspaper. During his time as a track and field and cross-country coach, he saw more than 25 all-state runners and several conference champions lead his teams.

He most recently taught astronomy and physics at Wheaton Warrenville South. He stopped coaching and teaching in early 2013 but would attend track and cross-country meets as his health would allow, according to the Daily Herald.

“I know it was killing him to not come back and coach because that’s what he loved,” boys cross country parent coordinator Keena Anderson told the Daily Herald “It was just really tough for the team. They really missed having him there. They missed the encouragement they got from him.”

A memorial will be held for Todd on Sunday, Dec. 21, in the Wheaton Warrenville South auditorium starting at 2 p.m., according to a Facebook post on the Wheaton Warrenville South track and cross-country page.

• Read more on the Daily Herald

Following Todd’s death, friends, colleagues, students and several others took to social media to mourn his passing. Here is a look at some tweets and Facebok posts shared in recent days:

Former Head Girls Track & Field and Boys Assistant Cross Country Coach Tom Todd has lost his his 2-year battle with cancer. He was a special coach and friend who continued to give back to track & field and cross country as an IHSA official. You will be missed but never forgotten.‪#‎TigerNation‬

— Wheaton Warrenville South Girls Cross Country and Track & Field, December 10, 2014

In loving memory of our teacher, coach, colleague and friend, Tom Todd. Tiger Nation will miss you dearly. pic.twitter.com/armDa0JRvy

— dave claypool (@dave_claypool) December 11, 2014

Thoughts and prayers are with @wwsbtf, @tigerxctf , and @WWSxc on the loss of Tom Todd. Always liked being at a meet when he was there.

— DyeStat IL (@DyeStatIL) December 11, 2014

Please keep Tom Todd and his family in your prayers. Tom was a great teacher, coach, official and colleague. True gentleman who loved T&F

— Bob Quinn (@NNduhawk24) December 11, 2014

RIP Coach Tom Todd. I’ll never forget his smile of reassurance. Some days it gave me more strength than my legs beneath me. #tigerforlife

— Emily Schwartz (@eschwartz1013) December 11, 2014

Thanks to all Tigers for their support with the loss of our friend, Dad, mentor, coach and teacher of teachers. Tom Todd 1953-2014.

— WW South Science (@wwsscience) December 11, 2014