April 8
April 8
Maureen’s Eulogy for Tommy
I’d like to start by expressing thanks to our friends and family who are joining us here today, and also for your love and care of Tommy. As we all know, Tom was a vibrant soul with magnetic charm and he captured our hearts. Tommy was fun, uber competitive, and he was always up for adventure. The stories are almost endless and his dear friend Hilo, in a loving tribute, described it as needing five novels bigger than the bible to capture all of his antics.
I was his little sister and we were buddies. He taught me a lot….like the love of music, how to waterski and drive a car were just a few. I could go on, but his most impactful teaching was how to stand up for myself. This was actually, and usually, in self defense because of his relentless antagonism and teasing. For Tommy it was sport and while it led to many a skirmish, we loved each other deeply and were always quick to make up and move on.
On the offensive, he would often say to me… “Maureen you can do whatever you want”. Because you know, Tom normally did do whatever he wanted. While this philosophy could be double-edged for him, it was also a pivot point of encouragement for me to aim high. I can say with confidence that many in the congregation today also experienced Tom’s unwavering support. In his final weeks I was grateful that I had the opportunity to say thank you.
We all know that Tommy had his struggles in life which caused hardships for him and for his loved ones, also many a worry. Yet despite this, and as John shared, he fought his way back with sheer determination and perseverance …..and Tom remained a fighter till the end. His last 7 weeks here on earth were spent at the Reno VA in a combination of the hospital, rehab and finally… hospice. Most days he walked his laps and attended his exercise class, even when every effort was a mountain for him to climb. We all witnessed his intense resiliency and his fighting spirit right up and until his last day.
By the end, Tommy found solace in the presence of his God and the knowledge that he was surrounded by love of his family, whom he cared so deeply for. He shared that he could feel that the end was near and spoke of being at the beach. He even described the soft ocean breezes and the sound of waves. I love this parting gift of his…. and I take comfort in the knowledge that he has found his place among the stars together with our brother Edward and with Mom and Dad.
God bless and love always Tommy ❤️
I’d like to start by expressing thanks to our friends and family who are joining us here today, and also for your love and care of Tommy. As we all know, Tom was a vibrant soul with magnetic charm and he captured our hearts. Tommy was fun, uber competitive, and he was always up for adventure. The stories are almost endless and his dear friend Hilo, in a loving tribute, described it as needing five novels bigger than the bible to capture all of his antics.
I was his little sister and we were buddies. He taught me a lot….like the love of music, how to waterski and drive a car were just a few. I could go on, but his most impactful teaching was how to stand up for myself. This was actually, and usually, in self defense because of his relentless antagonism and teasing. For Tommy it was sport and while it led to many a skirmish, we loved each other deeply and were always quick to make up and move on.
On the offensive, he would often say to me… “Maureen you can do whatever you want”. Because you know, Tom normally did do whatever he wanted. While this philosophy could be double-edged for him, it was also a pivot point of encouragement for me to aim high. I can say with confidence that many in the congregation today also experienced Tom’s unwavering support. In his final weeks I was grateful that I had the opportunity to say thank you.
We all know that Tommy had his struggles in life which caused hardships for him and for his loved ones, also many a worry. Yet despite this, and as John shared, he fought his way back with sheer determination and perseverance …..and Tom remained a fighter till the end. His last 7 weeks here on earth were spent at the Reno VA in a combination of the hospital, rehab and finally… hospice. Most days he walked his laps and attended his exercise class, even when every effort was a mountain for him to climb. We all witnessed his intense resiliency and his fighting spirit right up and until his last day.
By the end, Tommy found solace in the presence of his God and the knowledge that he was surrounded by love of his family, whom he cared so deeply for. He shared that he could feel that the end was near and spoke of being at the beach. He even described the soft ocean breezes and the sound of waves. I love this parting gift of his…. and I take comfort in the knowledge that he has found his place among the stars together with our brother Edward and with Mom and Dad.
God bless and love always Tommy ❤️