The Tate and Sims Families
Generations of Faith, Leadership, and Love for St. Pius X
Some stories begin with a single moment. For Tom ’66 and Ann ’66 Sims, it was the day a confident young Tom asked a bright-eyed Ann on a date—and she said “yes.” That pivotal moment in the halls of the St. Pius X High School Louisiana campus sparked a lifelong partnership built on faith, service, and a love for the school that shaped them both.
The roots of their SPX journey run deep. Tom followed his brother Mike ’60 into the classrooms of the brand-new school in 1962. A year later, Ann’s family moved from Roswell to Albuquerque for one reason: to live within walking distance of a Catholic high school and grade school.
At Pius, Tom suited up for basketball, joined the Junior Classical League, and thrived in Explorer Scouts. Ann’s days were filled with Pep Club, Chorus, Prom Committee, and the National Honor Society.
After graduation, Tom earned a Ph.D. in Psychology, serving as a Clinical Psychologist at three U.S. Army hospitals, helping launch Albuquerque’s first Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, and earning the New Mexico Psychological Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Ann became a registered nurse, caring for burn and trauma patients, serving in psychiatric nursing, and teaching for 26 years at TVI—where she rose to interim dean of Health Occupations.
Their belief in Catholic education never wavered. All three of their children—Peter ’90, Brian ’90, and Beth ’94—are proud Pius graduates. Today, three grandchildren—most-recent alum Hayden ’25, Carson ’27, and Alexander ’29—carry the torch.
“Watching our children and grandchildren grow in this community is priceless,” Tom says.
Beth Tate ’94 has taken that torch and run with it. At SPX, she balanced academics, athletics, and service—earning Blue Ribbon Student of the Year, playing volleyball all four years, and making the Homecoming Court. She went on to earn her BBA and MBA, build a thriving career in human resources and technology, and today serves as Vice President at Cambia Health Solutions, leading operations for a team of 800.
In 2008, Beth and her husband, Keith, returned to Albuquerque to raise their sons close to family. True to her roots, Beth invests her time in Boy Scouts, youth sports, and philanthropic efforts like the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Circle of Red.
“Pius is more than a school—it’s where my family’s roots run deep, where memories are shared, and where connections last a lifetime,” she says.
For the Sims and Tate families, giving back is non-negotiable.
“When St. Pius became an independent Catholic school, we knew our gifts were in the hands of good stewards,” Tom and Ann share.
“Seeing your contributions come to life—the new chapel, the STREAM program—it’s incredibly rewarding,” Beth added.
Today, they remain fixtures at Pius—cheering at games, attending events, gathering with fellow alumni, and helping to ensure the school’s mission thrives. Their story is a testament to the truth every Sartan knows: you don’t just attend St. Pius X for four years. You carry it with you for life.
“Catholic education shaped who we are,” Ann reflects. “We want that to continue for generations to come.”
