One of the most interesting and intelligent of my classmates who traveled from grade school through high school with me. In early elementary school we enjoyed a lunch room motto: "Dessert First!" He also slipped a serving of chocolate pudding onto the bench just as I sat down. Momentarily embarrassing.
I also recall going to see Westside Story with Tom, Kurasak and Bob Shaw. Afterward, we checked out whether or not it was "ok" for New York gang members to wear ballet shoes. We agreed it was in this case. A groundbreakig moment.
He was a bright, energetic kid. Among other classes throughout high school, we sat next to each other in Mrs. K's typing class. Since we both played/play piano, we made those manuals sing their own tunes to our frantic fingers in class cacophony. Whatever his plaintive or euphoric call, may he rest in peace. Chuck
Tom was one of the brightest people I've known in my lifetime and a truly independent thinker. We kept in touch periodically through college. The last time I saw Tom was pure serendipity: standing on a subway platform in lower Manhattan on a Saturday night; I had just come from a dance performance on Henry Street and he was w/ a date he had come up to see from DC or Maryland, where he was doing specialized computer work for the US Army. I knew Tom had married by 1970. I recall that I was in DC for my sister's wedding in December of that year when my mother told me about Tom's death. I was shocked and stricken by the news. I'll always remember Tom fondly and the fun times we had together in HS and college years.
I am not sure why I did not notice this string when it started some time ago. I knew Tom as well. He, Bob Karasek, and Marty Belmore were the "brain trust" in our class (I shared time on student council and advanced math classes). He was a red head with a lot of intensity. At Hixson JH he worked hard to set a chin up record for gym class. Tom and I spent one summer trying to earn money painting houses (think it was the summer following HS graduation). (the only jobs we got was Bob Karasek's house and Tom's own home). Also pushed lawn mowers together for $. Tom and I went off to Stanford together and went our separate ways with living groups and activities. I remember while at Stanford he ran for a student office and used the tag line "The best things are done by Knight" (a play on his middle name). He was a person that would have made some interesting contributions to the world if he had lived out a full life.
I am glad we are discussing things that mean a lot. Despite my off-the-wall, somewhat cynical sense of humor, I am basically a serious person, thanks to my difficult family history and wiring.
I always felt Tom was a kindred spirit, despite being in the "leader class." As you may recall, I was no social butterfly...in fact, if any boy expressed any interest in me, I was rather suspicious. (Sad but true.) But the summer after 8th or 9th grade, I spent a lot of time at the swimming pool, goofing around with Tom and Doug Jones (he later went to Thomas Jefferson), while keeping an eye (sort of) on the little boy I was babysitting for. It was fun. They tossed me into the pool a lot.
Tom and I were in English classes from 7th grade through our senior year, I think. (So was Jim O'Brien, another human being of a higher order.) What with our super teachers (Laura Thomure, Mrs. Fredricksen, and the scary Yvonne Lanagan), those of us who talked got to know each other pretty well.
Later, I started a little personal social justice campaign for the yearbook to separate the photos of each senior from his or her activities. I thought it was unfair to have non-participants look like pariahs because no school activities were after their photos.. (Now I realize that many of the kids in our class, certainly including the black ones, had parallel lives outside school activities that were probably much more interesting than ours. Like....great singing based on church choirs. Big family get-togethers. And hmmmmm....why weren't they in Glee Club or whatever it was? Was it true that Miss Rep said or felt that "their voices just don't mix"?)
Anyway, Tom was on the yearbook staff. We had a two-person meeting at his house. He understood my point. It was spring, too late for our yearbook. Maybe the format changed for the Class of '63. Can't remember.
Finally, at Christmas break our freshman year at college (1962-3), Tom and I went out to the Hi-Pointe, probably, and then to Cyrano's when it was on Clayton Road, not too far from my wonderful old neighborhood around Glenridge School in Clayton.
Tom had just read a book about the Vietnam war at that time, what was behind it and why it was so important. Now that's prescient!!
Jeff Perrill
One of the most interesting and intelligent of my classmates who traveled from grade school through high school with me. In early elementary school we enjoyed a lunch room motto: "Dessert First!" He also slipped a serving of chocolate pudding onto the bench just as I sat down. Momentarily embarrassing.
Jeff Perrill
I also recall going to see Westside Story with Tom, Kurasak and Bob Shaw. Afterward, we checked out whether or not it was "ok" for New York gang members to wear ballet shoes. We agreed it was in this case. A groundbreakig moment.
I miss Tom.
Linda Bemis (Hofman)
Of course I too remember Tom fondly. He was very bright, idealistic, earnest and sweet. I wish he were still with us.
Charles (Chuck) Lockyear
He was a bright, energetic kid. Among other classes throughout high school, we sat next to each other in Mrs. K's typing class. Since we both played/play piano, we made those manuals sing their own tunes to our frantic fingers in class cacophony. Whatever his plaintive or euphoric call, may he rest in peace. Chuck
David Gibson
Tpm passed in 1970. He had been married to the person who is now my sister in law.
Kathie Procopio (Goodman)
Tom was one of the brightest people I've known in my lifetime and a truly independent thinker. We kept in touch periodically through college. The last time I saw Tom was pure serendipity: standing on a subway platform in lower Manhattan on a Saturday night; I had just come from a dance performance on Henry Street and he was w/ a date he had come up to see from DC or Maryland, where he was doing specialized computer work for the US Army. I knew Tom had married by 1970. I recall that I was in DC for my sister's wedding in December of that year when my mother told me about Tom's death. I was shocked and stricken by the news. I'll always remember Tom fondly and the fun times we had together in HS and college years.
David Gibson
Tom returned from the Army and enrolled at Washington University. We used to go canoeing together during the summers.
Shortly after graduating in 1969, he married Jean Brooks (WGHS class of 1967). I had the honor of serving as his best man.
Tom and Jean moved to Madison, WI, where he had a grant to digitize the dictionary. He died in September, 1970.
I married Jean's sister Anne in November, 1970.
Strode Weaver
I am not sure why I did not notice this string when it started some time ago. I knew Tom as well. He, Bob Karasek, and Marty Belmore were the "brain trust" in our class (I shared time on student council and advanced math classes). He was a red head with a lot of intensity. At Hixson JH he worked hard to set a chin up record for gym class. Tom and I spent one summer trying to earn money painting houses (think it was the summer following HS graduation). (the only jobs we got was Bob Karasek's house and Tom's own home). Also pushed lawn mowers together for $. Tom and I went off to Stanford together and went our separate ways with living groups and activities. I remember while at Stanford he ran for a student office and used the tag line "The best things are done by Knight" (a play on his middle name). He was a person that would have made some interesting contributions to the world if he had lived out a full life.
Mary Hoffmann (Hunt)
I am glad we are discussing things that mean a lot. Despite my off-the-wall, somewhat cynical sense of humor, I am basically a serious person, thanks to my difficult family history and wiring.
I always felt Tom was a kindred spirit, despite being in the "leader class." As you may recall, I was no social butterfly...in fact, if any boy expressed any interest in me, I was rather suspicious. (Sad but true.) But the summer after 8th or 9th grade, I spent a lot of time at the swimming pool, goofing around with Tom and Doug Jones (he later went to Thomas Jefferson), while keeping an eye (sort of) on the little boy I was babysitting for. It was fun. They tossed me into the pool a lot.
Tom and I were in English classes from 7th grade through our senior year, I think. (So was Jim O'Brien, another human being of a higher order.) What with our super teachers (Laura Thomure, Mrs. Fredricksen, and the scary Yvonne Lanagan), those of us who talked got to know each other pretty well.
Later, I started a little personal social justice campaign for the yearbook to separate the photos of each senior from his or her activities. I thought it was unfair to have non-participants look like pariahs because no school activities were after their photos.. (Now I realize that many of the kids in our class, certainly including the black ones, had parallel lives outside school activities that were probably much more interesting than ours. Like....great singing based on church choirs. Big family get-togethers. And hmmmmm....why weren't they in Glee Club or whatever it was? Was it true that Miss Rep said or felt that "their voices just don't mix"?)
Anyway, Tom was on the yearbook staff. We had a two-person meeting at his house. He understood my point. It was spring, too late for our yearbook. Maybe the format changed for the Class of '63. Can't remember.
Finally, at Christmas break our freshman year at college (1962-3), Tom and I went out to the Hi-Pointe, probably, and then to Cyrano's when it was on Clayton Road, not too far from my wonderful old neighborhood around Glenridge School in Clayton.
Tom had just read a book about the Vietnam war at that time, what was behind it and why it was so important. Now that's prescient!!
Mary Hoffmann (Hunt)
Have Marty and Jim O'Brien been discussed? It was SUCH a shock to find out they were gone. I could go on. . . and on, as is my wont.