The co-captain of the 1986 team–widely considered to be among the best in school history, a team littered with SU Hall of Famers and a team inducted into the Ring of Honor in 2021–Tom “Shoe” Shoemaker was, according to his teammates, the single most important reason the team achieved success. He drove the off-season preparation by force of will and kept the team on the championship path throughout the year. His play, which was outstanding (four-year letter winner, All-MAC conference guard, Blair Heaton Award winner) paled in comparison to his leadership both on and off the field.
Tom received his degree in finance and financial management from SU in 1987, and a master's degree in the same field from Villanova in 2001. In 2002 Tom joined TD Bank, where his star rose quickly. He became President of Pennsylvania Operations, managing six offices in Commercial and Small Business banking. Despite the incredible demands of his job, he still found time to coach numerous youth sports (with his wife, Joanie) for their five kids and the rest of the Garnet Valley community. He also found time to serve on several Boards of Directors, including the Greater Philadelphia YMCA (2009-present), as Board Chair for two years and on the Executive Committee for 10 years; The Riverfront Alliance of Delaware County (14 years served; 4 years as Board Chair); BLOCS (2008 -present) --10 years on the Executive Committee.
In 2012, Tom began giving “spare” time to Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a non-profit Catholic school which provides college prep exclusively to children of low-income families in North Philadelphia. Cristo Rey receives no government funding, and the average student’s family earns just $42,000 per year. Cristo Rey depends on work study programs and donations for over 90% of its annual funding.
In 2022, Tom retired “early” from his position as TD Bank’s President of Pennsylvania Operations to accept the full-time position of president at Cristo Rey, where Tom’s devotion and contributions continue to be significant. When Tom was selected as president, John McConnell, founder, and former president of the school, said, “Tom’s commitment to our students, our community and our faculty and staff is unparalleled. Tom has been advocating for our students for years through his work on Cristo Rey’s Board of Directors and at TD Bank. Our future will be bright with Tom’s leadership and guidance.”
Tom is committed to everything he touches and to all the people he meets. As he did at SU, “Shoe” continues to make those around him better. You can find him at 17th & Allegheny in North Philadelphia every day, leading the Cristo Rey team, working with donors and work study partners to provide their 530 students with the educational opportunity they deserve. He would be happy to have you visit!
Tom is most proud of his wonderful family. He and Joanie, childhood sweethearts, have raised five amazing children together. Tommy, 25, a ’21 University of Michigan grad (works for Zip in San Francisco); Katie, Tommy’s twin, a ’21 Loyola (Baltimore) grad (currently a researcher at Johns Hopkins Medical Center but starting a 6-year PhD program at Georgia State in August); Sean, 23, ’24 Temple grad (Day Trader); Luke, 21, a rising senior Biology major and lacrosse player at Holy Cross University; and Maddie, 19, a, rising sophomore Psychology major and lacrosse player at Wesleyan University.
