Voice of Will: Losing Doc Tom

2005-02-03 - 8:54 a.m.
So when I got back from shanghai I had an urgent message to call my mother. fearing the worst I called home, and found my mom in a state of tears. I had to find out that one of my favorite people in the whole world had just passed away. I managed to help my mom out (it isnt like I can just walk in the door, that wonderful 14 hour flight that costs $900 each way, so here I am, stuck. Can't afford to fly back, and can't help my mom when she needs me)

Let me tell you a little about Tom. He was a friend of the familys. And I have often thought of him as an uncle. That is how much he has ment to me. I can remember him since I was 6 or 7 years old. About one time every week we would go over and visit at his house. My parents were friends with tom. We called him "Doc Tom" because he worked with his father who was one of the first allergists in Phoenix Az. Tom is my definition of style and grace for a man. He always carried himself with an air of importance (as a practicing Business Attorney, he was important for business and as a man he was just as important)
We would go over to his house and have dinner, sit around and visit. He used to have this purebred german/french poodle named Max. Beautiful dog, who went to the groomer every 2 to 3 weeks, who ate off the same china that we did, and I often joked that dog ate better than I did.

Tom was short (most people are next to me) about 5'9" or 5'10", had very curly hair (almost an afro it was that curly), and a booming laugh, a very sharp and quick wit, and the personality you loved to be around. His only deep belief (I ever knew) was the abiding belief that people around the world deserve to be loved and cherished. I never heard him mouth any racist or bigoted thought.

I have known he was dying for several years now. He told us about 6 years ago that he had prostate cancer, and we have kept in touch. With each year it got worse, but . . . compared with Crissy's dad (who died in 3 months after liver cancer was diagonsed) Tom seemed to live forever. Tom did not want to prolong any pain, he just lived his life as he had, and did his best. He knew it was time to go, and a gentleman ALWAYS leaves when he needs to.

I will miss you tom

Will