Dr. Tom P. Barden

On July 11, 2023, at the age of 90 (nearly 91) Tom Preston Barden passed away peacefully at home in Cincinnati, Ohio. His loving wife, children and grandsons were blessed with the opportunity to be with him, as he passed. He had been quite healthy until the final several months of life.

Tom was born on August 16, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois and spent his childhood in Chicago and Indianapolis, then later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. He decided early on that his life’s work would be focused on medicine.

Tom was a graduate of Northwestern University in Chicago (1954) and Indiana University Medical School (1958). Tom chose the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the subspecialty of Maternal Fetal Medicine (high risk pregnancies). He began his career in medicine in Indianapolis and then later moved to Cincinnati, where he spent 30 years at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, primarily doing research and teaching medical students and residents. His primary research focus was on fetal monitoring and drugs to stop pre-mature labor. He was an editor for the ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) Green Journal as well as an examiner for both the OB-GYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine Boards exams. He was chairman of the OB-GYN department at UC and the author of many research articles. He was a Captain in the US Air Force (1962-1964), celebrated professor, a loving husband and father, with a wry sense of humor.

He and his wife shared a passion for animals. He supported the Cincinnati Zoo (at which his wife spent 36 years as an employee at the Zoo Hospital) and he particularly treasured the time he had with his various cats, two Dachshunds and three Newfoundlands (a typical example in his life of adoring creatures - no matter how small or large).

Tom was predeceased by his parents – Hod and Laura Barden of Kenilworth, Illinois as well as his sister Martha Stone of Forney, Texas.

His surviving family consists of his loving wife Beverly, son Mike (Stacy) Davis-Barden and grandsons Ben and Sam, daughter Libby Barden (Gordon) Vossler and grandson Ryan, and son Matt (Debbie) Barden and grandsons Alex (Florencia) & Max. All of his family and friends (and his adored cat Rocky) will miss him dearly.

A small memorial gathering will be held for Tom at Gilligan Funeral Homes, 8225 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday, July 13th from 1:00-3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

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