Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 46 minutes ago
When Cindy and Tom Cooksey met, Cindy says she knew he was her "Prince Charming." Tom was a former Georgia Tech & Atlanta Falcons linebacker turned successful businessman who lit up every room they walked in to. They married, built a life together, and raised three sons in Atlanta.
Over time, Cindy's fairytale began to unravel. Tom grew increasingly agitated. The steady, patient man developed a short temper, prone to sudden outbursts that felt entirely out of character.
The change was deeply unsettling for Cindy and their children. The man they loved became, in many ways, unrecognizable.
In his 50s, Tom was diagnosed with dementia. Doctors suspected his condition was linked to years of repeated head trauma from playing football.
Tom spent his final years in assisted living. After his death last year at age 69, Cindy made the decision to donate his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center. Researchers there diagnosed him with the most advanced stage of CTE.
Cindy is now fundraising in our Race to End CTE, channeling her family’s loss into action to ensure other families do not have to endure the same heartbreak.
We thank Cindy for sharing her story and for supporting our mission to #EndCTE. On the anniversary of Tom’s passing, we are holding the Cooksey family in our thoughts.
Help Cindy reach her fundraising goal: give.concussionandcte.org/HelpStopCTE
When Cindy and Tom Cooksey met, Cindy says she knew he was her "Prince Charming." Tom was a former Georgia Tech & Atlanta Falcons linebacker turned successful businessman who lit up every room they walked in to. They married, built a life together, and raised three sons in Atlanta.
Over time, Cindy's fairytale began to unravel. Tom grew increasingly agitated. The steady, patient man developed a short temper, prone to sudden outbursts that felt entirely out of character.
The change was deeply unsettling for Cindy and their children. The man they loved became, in many ways, unrecognizable.
In his 50s, Tom was diagnosed with dementia. Doctors suspected his condition was linked to years of repeated head trauma from playing football.
Tom spent his final years in assisted living. After his death last year at age 69, Cindy made the decision to donate his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center. Researchers there diagnosed him with the most advanced stage of CTE.
Cindy is now fundraising in our Race to End CTE, channeling her family’s loss into action to ensure other families do not have to endure the same heartbreak.
We thank Cindy for sharing her story and for supporting our mission to #EndCTE. On the anniversary of Tom’s passing, we are holding the Cooksey family in our thoughts.
Help Cindy reach her fundraising goal: give.concussionandcte.org/HelpStopCTE
