From iconic ad campaigns to bike trail restoration, Tom Sharbaugh ’66 Com left his mark on everything he touched. Known for his boundless creativity, he was, in the words of his wife, Judie Estricher Sharbaugh ’67 Lib, “a great marketing guy” who had a knack for crafting memorable slogans.

An Army veteran who served in Vietnam, Sharbaugh earned an MBA from Wharton in 1970 and began his marketing career at Procter & Gamble, later landing his dream job at Anheuser-Busch, where he led marketing for 16 years. He helped create the classic Spuds MacKenzie campaign, as well as the infamous Bud Bowl: Super Bowl ads in which mock football games were played by bottles of Budweiser beer.

Known to some as “the coolest guy around,” Judie says, Sharbaugh had a way of making friends wherever he went. The two met at a party hosted by his fraternity, Sigma Chi, and were married 57 years. They reconnected with several of Sharbaugh’s fraternity brothers in later years, attending many Penn State football games together.

After retiring in 2002, Sharbaugh channeled his creativity into community work. The couple lived part time on Sanibel Island, Fla., where they joined the Sanibel Bike Club and Sharbaugh played a key role in restoring bike paths on the island. He also spearheaded a major renovation of the Sanibel Community Association’s historic community house. In 2019, he received a lifetime achievement award for his contributions.

Sharbaugh (AROTC) died on May 27, 2025, at age 81 and is survived by his wife, three daughters, and two grandchildren. —Katherine O’Brien