Tome Pires was born in Boticas, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal, in 1969. As an infant, his parents took their small family and fled Salazarist, Portugal, for Lyon, France. Tome grew up in France and eventually served a five-year contract with the French Foreign Legion, serving in Bosnia for part of his tenure. Upon completion of his term, he returned to France and studied education at the American University of Paris. After completion of his degree, he moved to Northern Ontario and now teaches Phys. Ed. and French at a high school in the Sudbury District. He has coached minor hockey in the district for the last 10 years.
