PEOPLE OF INTEREST
ANTHONY INSWASTY
After years in the ever-hectic world of college football, Tom Deahn, director of event management at the Hutchinson Shores Resort and Spa, switched to a
less stressful position in the hospitality industry.
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The OPERATIONS GURU
BY RACHEL CUCCURULLO
Tom Deahn, director of event management at the
Hutchinson Shores Resort and Spa, comes from
humble beginnings in the small town of Arcade, N.Y.
— just outside of Buffalo, where he was his father’s
main source of help on their dairy farm.
“I began doing man’s work when I was just a 7-year-old
boy,” he said. “I was driving tractors, taking care of cows and
so on…”
When not tending to the herd, he and his family were very
involved in athletic events and enjoyed watching sports.
Deahn’s father played basketball, baseball and semipro
football for a short time in his youth. He even tried out in the
1960s with the Buffalo Bills when it was an American Football
League franchise.
“I think with that background, sports became my life,”
Deahn said.
One interesting tidbit Deahn shared was about his father’s
participation in rodeo events.
“He was mentored by Slim Pickens,” he reminisced. Pickens
was a rodeo performer and actor, best known for his role
in Blazing Saddles.
“My mother was also involved in sports as well. She was a
cheerleader and played basketball.”
Quite the athlete, Deahn showed horses, played Little
League baseball and participated in the Attica Rodeo, riding
bulls in his senior year of high school. Because his hometown
did not have a youth football program, Deahn didn’t play
until his freshman year in high school.
“I knew I wanted to continue playing football and was fortunate
enough to have the opportunity to play at Heidelberg
College in Tiffin, Ohio,” Deahn said.
After his freshman year, the coaching staff changed and
this would impact Deahn’s life forever. The new Heidelberg
position coach, Greg Quick, became a mentor and older
brother figure for Deahn.
“During my sophomore year, my father’s passing made me >>