Thomas Michael Wharton

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Thomas Michael Wharton

November 9, 1950 ~ May 8, 2025

Thomas Michael Wharton was born on November 9, 1950 to Violet Ruga Wharton and John Rapson Wharton. He passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025, surrounded by his family. He lived a life with integrity, heart, humor and headline-worthy spirit.

Tom grew up in the Salt Lake City area; he graduated from Granite High School and later from the University of Utah. He served proudly in the National Guard. In 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Gayen Lee Bennett. Together, they raised four children. They spent many unforgettable adventures in their legendary orange van, as well as epic trips throughout the world. Gayen passed away from cancer in 2004, but the legacy of their love never faded.

Tom remarried in 2007 to Nancy Arlene Gines. Her companionship, the love of her wonderful family and their doodle dogs filled many days with joy and laughter. Tom was a kind and loyal husband and father to all his children and stepchildren.

Tom devoted 46 years to The Salt Lake Tribune, where he covered high school sports from 1967 until 2020. Later, as the Tribune’s outdoor writer, he confessed he “couldn’t tell a trout from a bluegill” but he didn’t flounder for long. Through stories shared by hunters, anglers and small-town locals, he became a thoughtful voice for Utah’s outdoors and its unsung communities.

A devout Catholic, Tom made time for Mass wherever he went, from living rooms to cathedrals. He gave countless outdoor lectures, authored several books, and earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his reporting on the Great Salt Lake. In 2023, he was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.

Tom is survived by his children Emma (Dennis), Jacob (Hollie), Rawl (Tiffany) and Bryer; nine grandchildren; his wife Nancy; her daughters Amber (Shane) and Candace (Derek); three grandchildren; his brother John Derk Wharton (Alicia); and his sister Lori Wharton Nickerson (Nate).

A funeral Mass was celebrated on May 15, 2025 at Saint Ann Catholic Church. Interment followed at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider contributing to the University of Utah’s Wharton Family Scholarship or to the Outdoor Writers Association of America, where Tom was a proud member. A special thank you to his team from Aspire Hospice for their gentle guidance in his final months.