Friday, September 3, 2021
I've tried to think of how to say what I’m feeling about my Tom--my friend; my husband's brother; and in so many ways-my brother. Tom's lovely wife gave me the eulogy he prepared fourteen years ago for my husband, Jim. It was delivered by their brother, Bob, because Tom had "a broken voice & a broken heart". So I’m going to plagiarize his powerful words to remember Jim because they also describe him.
"Love is not an easy feeling to put into words. Nor is loyalty, or trust or joy. Tom loved life completely and lived it fully. What
Tom was about love. Not the popular culture love, but the kind of love that is genuine affection, respect, appreciation,
encouragement & support. Love is not selfish but requires compromise, sacrifice, and graciously receiving.
Tom need not be made larger in death than he was in life. I will remember him as a good and decent man, born to loving
parents that he made proud through his actions and his character."
Tom loved Phyllis deeply with the abandon of a man who knows he’s been very lucky in love. He loved his siblings, extended family and friends in a way that made us all feel "very, very special" to him. I will always love you, brother. Your love has been my blessing.
