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Tom was a friend to many. Despite recent health problems, he showed up at our 30th Reunion and looked great! I heard from one of Tom's best friends, Randy Reid, that he passed away form a heart attack. It's sad that despite Tom having a big and loving heart, it quit on him earlier than we would have wished.
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Daren Livingston
The first time I remember Theo was in the Grissom cafeteria. The new kid (4th grade) from Ohio. We played baseball, he shortstop me second base for 3 years. Football 7-12, basketball etc.. he spent many afternoons at my house before basketball practice and was one of my best friends. Our crew was special and Tom was too. I remember his dad had the first big screen TV. We settled in to watch the OU-Ohio State game as they were big Buckeye fans. Needless to say the Sooners were literally dancing in the streets after that one....Theo was crushed, however he ended up at OU as my room mate freshman year.
I pray that his parents make it through this and know that he was loved by many. I know Tom missed his friends alot. We stayed together at the reunion and talked many hours about the great people that had crossed his path over the years. He knew that his health could be trouble anytime but he told me that growing up in Tulsa, having the friends he had, and being able to see everyone at the reunion was priceless.
I will miss you!!
D
Julie Heagler (Huffman)
I am so sad to hear about Tom's passing. I wasn't able to make it to the reunion and missed seeing everyone, and Tom would have been one of them. Lots of years and lots of memories. My prayers go out to the family! He will be missed!
Tom Adams
Great story Daren. I too remember Tom from the baseball field, but from the opposing dugout. I grew playing against sports against Tom and with him in High School and he always was true competitor with a big heart. Tom always had a mischievous smile on his face and you knew he was up to something.
I had an opportunity to share a few beers with Tom at the reunion last summer and it was great to some old war stories with him. I will miss you Tom.
Tell the ones that you love, that you love them every day.
Jack Spencer (Spencer)
A memorial page for Tom can be found at www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi
Brian Kinsey
I am in Scotland today so couldn't be with you and your family. Words can't say how sad it made me to not to be their with Basil and Susanna, Hope, Mike, your wife, Mary, and all of those other special people that will miss you.
Want you to know that I did play a very poor round of golf today...one that you would really appreciate and much like those we shared in Dallas a few years ago! Two pars to start off but then I think you took hold of my game. You see.....I hit 3 of those patented "Drop Kicks" that you always used to hit! Thing was...you never cared....you just turned around and said "Drop Kick" with that big sheepish smile! It wasn't about the golf was it....it was about being out there with your buddies. That is all you truly cared about...being with the people you loved. Your smile and good nature ALWAYS overshadowed any pain you might have felt, regardless of the situation.
I cherish those great times we had....and we had many...before life took us in different directions. Basketball in your driveway (Basil's behind the back/under the leg layup always closed the door in HORSE), little league football and baseball. Always enjoyed watching you coming in as the sixth man in high school basketball for a few timely steals. I knew exactly when you were going to pick their pocket! Cruising in your mother's Buick convertible looking for perdiddles. We even earned a few bucks together one summer putting solar film on every window on the second tallest building in Tulsa!
Loved seeing my old buddy last summer at the Memorial reunion in full form. You always dressed better than the rest of us and you looked awfully sharp then...crisp, clean shirts, sport coats and dress slacks....it was important that dressed sharp.
I know you lived life to its fullest for years and when your heart wouldn't allow that anymore...well I guess you moved on.
I hate knowing I can't give you a quick call and hearing THEO with that resounding....Boyyyyyy! I don't even recall where that came from but it always stuck between us...and you will always stick with me.
Peace Brother,
Brian
Tom Howard
Tom was always a great person with a positive attitude. If I had a son I would want him to be the kind of person Tom was. He will be missed RIP Theo.
Robin Rattray (Benesh)
Mitch Parker
I knew Tom throughout Thoreau Jr. High and Memorial. He was always pleasant, friendly to everyone. I remember when I played football one year at Thoreau during practice one time our coach wanted me to play offensive right guard, coach said on this play, you need to take out the linebacker. Being one of the smallest kids on the team, (if not the school), I asked, "Who's the linebacker?" Tom Kerpon... :0....... You can imagine the words I was thinking..... :-) Well, after being mangled up in a pretzel, I remember Theo comeing up to me, slapped me on the shoulder pads and said, "Don't feel bad Parker, your not the only short player on the team." Theo wasn't too much bigger than me.
My fondest memory was in jr year at Memorial when we had Mr. Gibbons together for English class. He sat right behind me. We cut it up all year. I would bring jolly ranchers to class with me everyday. (I had free access to as many as I wanted back then.) And everyday, there's a tap on my shoulder, then an open hand sliding into view by the side of my arm.
At the 10 year reunion, which was a good crowd, I bumped into him at the bar, he bought me a beer, and I casually reached into my coat pocket and gave him a jolly rancher and he stopped, looked at it, then the Theo smile came out and we both started laughing. He remembered those good times. Later that night, he crept up behind me and all I saw was an open hand creeping around my shoulder.
He told me he was selling Cadi's in Dallas at that time.
Seeing him at the 30 yr reunion last year was also a joy. He looked exactly the same to me. One of those people that never seems to age. I had no idea he was having heart problems. His passing was a great shock to me. We all lost a great friend. RIP my friend. See you on the other side....