Tom Davin, a Newport Beach-based executive who had served as chief executive at companies like 5.11 Tactical and Panda Express, passed away on Sept. 1 after battling ALS.
“Tom’s impact on 5.11 was tremendous. …Mentor and friend…leader who inspired by example,” said Francisco J. Morales who co-founded 5.11 and became CEO after Davin left.
“With his heartfelt character, and steadfast drive, his chapter will always be an important chapter of the 5.11 story,” 5-11 current CEO Troy Brown said in a statement. “We are grateful for the foundational work that Tom did, which allowed us to be in the space we are today, positioned for growth.”
Davin passed away peacefully in the presence of his wife Molly and three daughters.
A year ago, Davin was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He knew much about the disease because his good friend Augie Nieto suffered the same illness; Davin joined Nieto’s nonprofit, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS.
Davis was named an honoree for this year’s Augie’s Quest fundraising dinner, a recognition now given posthumously.
“Our grief now can be focused on the good that Augie and Tom sought for humanity with the eradication of this malicious disease and for Tom, with emphasis on the near double ALS incidence affecting members of the U.S. military,” Augie’s Quest foundation said in a statement.
“ALS may have won the battle with Augie and Tom, but the war is ours to win and the battle is raging thanks to Augie and Lynne Nieto and now Tom.”
Davin wrote a Leader Board for the Business Journal in June.
“Serving six years as a Marine infantry and recon officer gave me more than structure and discipline,” he wrote in his Leader Board.
“It gave me high quality reps of leading young Marines in a wide variety of challenging environments, often solving complex problem sets. That experience has shaped everything I’ve done since, from M&A on Wall Street to running restaurants, building consumer brands and mentoring the next generation of leaders. And today, as I face the biggest battle of my life—ALS—it’s that same experience that keeps me pressing forward.”
