FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – The community is preparing to a say final goodbye to the late Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry ahead of his being laid to rest Friday morning.
21Alive will carry a live stream of the funeral for those unable to attend, starting at 10 a.m. You can watch it live on MyTV, channel 21.3, and online here.
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Wednesday and Thursday served as a time for mourners to pay their respects and give condolences to Henry’s family at the Allen County Courthouse, with dozens of individuals the late mayor worked with attending to honor a “true person” of the Fort Wayne community. Former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke returned to the city to pay his respects, saying Henry’s impact can be seen all around the city and his impact will be felt for generations to come.
“I think people 50 years from now will look back and say how did the rivers get developed, how did we turn downtown around, how did we get these amenities in the community, how did we keep our neighborhoods strong,” Helmke said. “If they are going to be honest, they are going to say Tom Henry was a major part of that.
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Cindy, the mayor’s wife of nearly 50 years, and Henry’s marriage was part of “an extraordinary love,” as described in his obituary.
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The Honorable Thomas C. Henry, Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, 72, passed away at Stillwater Hospice in Fort Wayne on Thursday, March 28, 2024, surrounded by his large and loving family. The “People’s Mayor,” Tom was first elected to the seat in January of 2008, an office he held for more than16 years. Tom also served on Fort Wayne’s City Council from 1983-2003.
Born on November 8, 1951 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Tom was the second child of Jerome F. and Marganelle (Applegate) Henry. He was a 1970 graduate of Central Catholic High School and received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne. Stationed in Africa, Tom proudly served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1973. He served in the US Army Reserves until 1977.
Tom was a member of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion Post #82 – Fort Wayne.
As Mayor, Tom’s accomplishments are too numerous to fully detail. He was proud of each project that moved Fort Wayne forward. His vision shaped the skyline, the waterways and the neighborhoods that make Fort Wayne a truly livable city. Most notable are the completion of Harrison Square, the Ash Skyline Plaza, the Dr. Martin Luther King Bridge, the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, the trail system, and of course, the Riverfront Development, which led to the creation of Promenade Park, the second phase of which is underway.
Tom was a statesman. He was best known for his diplomacy, his willingness to work across any aisle, and for his team building – all of which resulted in the Fort Wayne we know and love today.
Of his many achievements, his greatest reward was in the life he built with his wife, Cindy (Kocks), whom he wed on June 21, 1975. Together, they raised their son, Benjamin Jerome, and daughter, Elizabeth Anne. Theirs was an extraordinary love, and where Cindy was, Tom was never far behind. It is somehow fitting then that Cindy preceded Tom in death on January 20, 2024.
A true visionary and lifelong public servant, Tom lived by the tenets of the Westpoint maxim: Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.
We believe he would ask us to best honor him by living the same way.
Tom was preceded in death by his cherished wife Cindy, his parents, Jerome and Marganelle, and his brother, Timothy. Surviving are his children, Benjamin J. Henry and Elizabeth A. Guevara; grandchildren, Anastasia and Nikolas Henry and Alexandria and Angelina Guevara; brothers, Jerome F. Henry, Jr. (Becky), Anthony (Susan), Erik (Courtney Tritch), Matthew (Anne), Martin (Vicki), Kurt (Teresa), Karl, Louis (Brenda), and Christopher (Carolyn); sisters, Paula (Bill) Bentley, Andrea (Ramon) Navarro, Denise (Bill) Wenzel, Sonya Witte (Dave Herport) Lisa (Mark) Canada, and Jessica (Nate) Henry-Johnson; mother-in-law, Martha M. Kocks-Hamrick; siblings-in-law, Kevin, Barry, Scott (Amy), and Mark Kocks and Angela Kocks-Schmidt; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; a devoted staff of both city and campaign workers (including his beloved nephew, Adam Henry) and an entire community of colleagues and citizens, in whom he believed with all his heart.
The family asks that, despite our collective broken heart, we all carry forth the work begun by Tom. He laid a foundation on which we will continue to build the City of Fort Wayne. May we all be inspired by his legacy of treating others with dignity and respect. For that is what made Tom so special.
The Mass of Christian Resurrection will be celebrated Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1105 South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 with visitation from 9:00- 10:00 a.m.in the church. Visitation is also from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11, 2024 at the Allen County Courthouse. Interment in Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements through Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir (fwcchoir.org) or by mail to 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd. Ft. Wayne, IN 46805 or Humane Fort Wayne (humanefw.org) or by mail to 4914 S. Hanna St., Fort Wayne, IN 46806.
More about Henry’s life and legacy can be found in our previous report that immediately followed the mayor’s death:
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