Thomas Roger Aceto

After a hard-fought 5-year battle with cancer, Thomas (Tom) Roger Aceto, 62, of Evergreen, CO passed away in his sleep on October 20, 2024 at his home with his family lovingly by his side.

 Tom was born November 25th, 1961 to Roger and Sandy (Severson) Aceto in Mason City, IA, but grew up in Des Moines, IA. In his younger years, Tom often played golf, baseball, football, and tennis, yet it was basketball where he truly excelled. In junior high he played on an AAU basketball team which played tournaments across the country. As a junior at Hoover high school in Des Moines, IA, he was the team’s leading scorer finishing on the First team All-Metro as well as All-Area averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds a game. He also received All-State special mention and Iowa District Press Association honorable mention. During his senior year he led his team to a 17-3 season and won the Metro Conference Championship. He ended the season with 24.2 ppg, hitting 55% of his FG and 84% of his free throws. While at Hoover, he became the third leading career scorer and sixth in career rebounds. He was also third and fourth leading season scorer. Tom also held the career free throw percentage with 174-211 for an 82.46% and was voted most valuable player, 1st team All-Metro and 2nd team All-State. It was also at Hoover where Tom met and dated his wife, Marianne. It wasn’t until years later, that they found each other again and sparked what would become a 28-year marriage and partnership as soulmates, built on a life of love, laughter, and togetherness.

 After graduating from Hoover, Tom accepted a full-ride scholarship to play basketball at Mesa College in Grand Junction, CO where he had a career high 1,088 points and All-RMAC Honorable Mention his junior and senior years. He graduated from Mesa College in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. Even after graduating from college, Tom continued playing in basketball leagues and tournaments and eventually coached both his sons in youth league sports.

 After college, Tom was a Regional Sales Representative and distributor for Myers Tires Supply for 30 years and was proud of the relationships he developed in the automotive industry. He launched his own business, Automotive Supply and Equipment L.L.C. (A.S.E.), in 2016 where he continued to service tire and automotive shops throughout the state of Colorado. In 2022, Tom retired and sold his company to devote the remainder of his life to full time travel and recreation with his family, relatives, and friends. He was an avid outdoorsman, Colorado sports fan, and active golfer, hiker, downhill and cross-country skier, and recreational basketball player. He was a true and loyal friend to all who knew him best.

His successes in sports and his career were only eclipsed by his greatest achievement of all, his devotion to his family. He passed down all his extensive sports knowledge to his sons, and despite working long hours, traveling throughout the state for work, he made sure he attended every game possible. He actively shared all his passions with his family as he led them on many adventures, exploring almost every hiking trail and golf course in Colorado. Tom was a devoted and loving husband and father who always put his family first. To his family, though, he was so much more than a father and husband; he was also a mentor, friend, rock and anchor - always there when he was needed. Even in the face of cancer, he continued to fight and beat all expectations to spend any extra time he could muster with his family.

 Tom is survived by his wife Marianne, of Evergreen, CO, sons Nick and Matt of Evergreen, CO; brothers Mike (Shannon) of Urbandale, IA, and Joe (Jenney) of Shawnee, KS; and extended family and loved ones including three nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Sandra Aceto. His loss is incomprehensible; he will be dearly missed and never forgotten.

 A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held at Christopher's in Des Moines, Iowa on November 9, 2024, from 4 PM to 7 PM.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory of Tom to American Cancer Society. 

 Special thanks to UC Health Cancer Center in Highlands Ranch and the amazing team at Mount Evans Hospice.