My wife Jayne & I streamed the service yesterday and both share fond memories of Tom. He was always pleasant, fun to be around, and a man of solid character. Unfortunately Jayne & I couldn’t attend the service yesterday because of all that is going on, but if we did I would have shared one of my favorites “Mr. Fileccia” stories:
Mr. Fileccia (he will always be Mr. Fileccia to me) and I used to sneak out for a round of golf from time to time; he really loved the game. He wasn’t the biggest hitter off the tee, but kept it straight most of the time. I was the opposite – big hitter, but I really didn’t know where the ball was going to end up after I hit it. I remember one time we were playing and I really got a hold of one – a low line drive right down the middle of the fairway that seemed to disappear it went out so far. I didn’t do that often, so as I stood there admiring my shot Mr. Fileccia came up to me and said, “I wish I hit the ball as far as you, I could use the exercise”. Still beaming with the results of my shot, I really only heard the first part of his statement and played on.
A few holes later as I trudged up and down hills of the wrong fairway in the hot sun looking for my ball, it hit me - Mr. Fileccia’s comment a few holes back was a dig more than a compliment. Here I was getting “the exercise” he was talking about, but was getting it because I didn’t hit the ball straight. After two shots I finally got back onto the fairway where he was and he saw my face and knew I had finally figured out what he saying. He then gave me that sly little grin of his and said something like “lots of hills over there huh?” and broke out in laughter.
I honestly can’t remember what either of our scores were that day, or any other day we played. But I will always remember how much I enjoyed being around Mr. Fileccia – golf course or no golf course.
Rest in peace Mr. Fileccia.