Tuesday, May 22, 2018
I was so greatly saddened to hear the news of Tom's passing. He was my manager at my first job out of college - and he really took a chance on me. I learned so much from him as a young metallurgist, not just about aluminum and fabrication processes, but also how to interact positively with others and deliver large projects.
Tom always injected humor and warmth into everything he did. No matter how frustrated or down I was feeling, Tom always found the right words to cheer me up and keep me motivated. He had a passion for many things - hiking, sailing, science, metallurgy and especially his children. No one displayed his love and commitment to his boys more than Tom - and as I raised my daughters I often thought of that beautiful commitment and relationship.
I remember one January, for my performance review, Tom decided we weren't going to sit in a stuffy office and read through boring forms - we were going to head to Whiteface mountain for an "offsite meeting." He told me to pack my skiis in the car the next day and we would head to the mountain. It was a great day of skiing and an important lesson not to take life to seriously. Once we were both relaxed on the trip home, he gave me my rating and told me I needed to work on carving my turns a little more next year! That was Tom in a nutshell: brilliant, warm, supportive and humorous all rolled into one.
I will miss you, old friend, and wish your family peace and comfort in your passing.
