Thomas Whitestone

Thomas Elkin “Tom” Whitestone, longtime UNC Charlotte Sports Information Director and Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. He was 62.

It is impossible to tell the story of Charlotte Athletics without telling the story of Tom Whitestone. He joined the 49ers in 1987 and spent the next 37 years chronicling the stories of Charlotte Athletics and the student-athletes, coaches and teams who made it special. When he retired in 2024, Tom had spent nearly half of his life serving the University during its 80-year history.

And, perhaps most importantly, it was through Charlotte Athletics that Tom met the love of his life, Kim, his wife of 30 years.

Few people were as deeply connected to Charlotte Athletics as Tom. His dedication to student-athletes, coaches and staff was recognized in 2020 when Charlotte’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

During his final years at the University, Tom was instrumental in creating the Charlotte Athletics Hall of Fame. It was a dream of his to recognize the greatest student-athletes, coaches and contributors in 49ers history. That dream became a reality in 2020, with the first class inducted in 2022. The University he loved so much gave that love back to him. Earlier this month, Tom learned that he would be inducted into the Charlotte Athletics Hall of Fame during the 2026-27 basketball season, along with the 1977 men’s basketball Final Four team. It will be his second such honor. In 2019, he was inducted into the Berkshire County (MA) Hall of Fame.

Beyond the statistics, headlines and championships, Tom will be remembered for the relationships he built and the people he helped. He had an extraordinary memory for Charlotte Athletics history and a genuine appreciation for the student-athletes and coaches who passed through campus. For generations of 49ers, Tom was not simply the person who told their story—he was part of their story.

Tom’s favorite times were spent coaching his children in sports and watching them from the sidelines compete. He loved collecting baseball cards. He loved spending time at the beach with friends and family. He loved looking for dolphins and sea turtles. He loved the Kansas City Royals and the Miami Dolphins. He truly loved life and his kindness was infectious. As a husband, dad and friend he was truly the best.

Surviving Tom are his wife, Kim; their children, Sam (Mackenzie Wilder) and Allie (Gabe Liggeri); his siblings, Kenneth (Polly) Whitestone, Robert (Carolyn) Whitestone and Stephenson Whitestone; brother-in-law Rusty (Tracey) Green; in-laws Virgil and Jeannette Green; and a host of nieces and nephews whom he adored.

He was preceded in death by his parents, W.S. Peter and Jane Stephenson Whitestone.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Sunday, 9/13 at 3:00 p.m. in the Salons located on the third floor at Halton Arena on the campus of UNC Charlotte. Parking is available in the Central Deck.

In a way that would have made Tom smile, guests are encouraged to wear their favorite Kansas City Royals gear—or the gear of their favorite sports team, much to Tom’s chagrin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Charlotte 49ers Men's Soccer; Community Recreation Association (CRA), 400 Main St., Dalton, MA 01226; or the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization, P.O. Box 6254, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 or venmo @OIBSTPO.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg is serving the Whitestone family.