The Des Moines, Iowa, community is mourning the death of beloved native and longtime coach, John Thomas ‘Tom’ Cady.
Tom Cady passed away on January 8, 2026, at Ramsey Village Continuing Care in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 96, leaving his family and loved ones devastated.
Born in Des Moines on July 19, 1929, as the youngest of two children to late parents John and Doris Cady, John Thomas ‘Tom’ Cady was a cherished member of the Iowa sports community and touched the lives of numerous young athletes and students with his decades-long coaching and teaching career.
Tom began his athletic journey at North High School and remained an active lifelong member of the Polar Bear Club.
He further served in the Marine Corps, where he was on the swim team, and later attended the University of Iowa, where he played basketball on the Hawkeye Junior Varsity Team and was memeber of the Iowa Swim Team.
Cady graduated with a four-year degree and a master’s in education from The University of Iowa.
His love for sports, especially swimming, was immense. Although Tom didn’t pursue his career in sports professionally, he went on to become a remarkable swimming and baseball coach.
Tom Cady began his coaching career at Des Moines Tech, coaching baseball, swimming, and wrestling.
He also began lifeguarding and giving swim lessons at Birdland Pool as a Red Cross instructor in 1946.
Furthermore, coach Cady’s exceptional swimming journey took him from Des Moines Tech to Lincoln High School, where he taught P.E. and became the boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving coach for over three decades.
Throughout his coaching career, Tom Cady was named coach of the year several times while in the Des Moines Metropolitan Conference.
He was also named the state Coach of the Year by the Iowa Swin Coaches Association in 1973 and was voted into that sports of Hall of Fame in 1990.
Even after retirement, Cady was called to coach Lincoln girls and boys in 1999. During the summers, he taught swimming lessons to numerous kids and adults at his Beaverdale backyard pool.
Additionally, Cady competed in Masters Swimming and triathlon events, winning numerous medals. He also briefly coached gymnastics and soccer.
Late Tom Cady Also Dedicated His Life To Education
In addition to his coaching career, Tom Cady also won the hearts of many with his decades-long career as a teacher.
He began his education career in the Des Moines Public Schools, teaching at Bird Elementary, Des Moines Tech, and spending the majority of his career at Des Moines Lincoln High School, where he taught history, health, and physical education classes.
Similarly, he was a lifetime volunteer for the American Red Cross and Special Olympics and received recognition for his long years of volunteering.
He officiated high school football and swimming events and was inducted into the Iowa High School Swimming Officials Hall of Fame and into the North High Hall of Fame.
Tom was also a 50-year volunteer official at the Drake Relays. His indefinable contribution to the Des Moines sports community and his kind nature will always be remembered.
Coach Tom Cady is survived by his four daughters, Dawn, Lisa, Jil, and Cory, eleven grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, sons-in-law, and the entire family.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Betty, his parents, and his brother, Phil Cady.
A celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross.
