The stretch of the road where Tommy was hit is a very bad stretch of the road. It is the first straight portion of the road after a long stretch of curves. This is why drivers try passing cars (and gringos on bikes) in this area. This would be bad enough but it is also a small village. The people of this village have wanted speed bumps installed for a long time. Shortly after Tom was killed they held a protest, although the protest was small it was a call to the officials to do something.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Speed bumps
The stretch of the road where Tommy was hit is a very bad stretch of the road. It is the first straight portion of the road after a long stretch of curves. This is why drivers try passing cars (and gringos on bikes) in this area. This would be bad enough but it is also a small village. The people of this village have wanted speed bumps installed for a long time. Shortly after Tom was killed they held a protest, although the protest was small it was a call to the officials to do something.
Mexico Heaven
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Song to Tommy
TOMMY
I wanted to ask you
How's it going?
You always seemed to be the kind of guy
Knows which way the wind is blowing
So, I went to ask you
Drinking coffee with the pack
But like wind, you were gone again
And I still expect you back
Now you're parked in Valhalla
Was your ship towed away?
Complain to the angels
They’ve got all day
Surfing with the saints
On a sea of blue clouds
Hang ten until tomorrow
I hear you laughing out loud
Not that we were such close friends
Didn’t matter anyway
Just came to depend upon each other as a reminder
Of what gets us through each day
Swapping bs in some basement
Trading tales and battle scars
How we quit the bars, drive a rocket car
To a place out in the stars
Now you're parked in Valhalla,
Was your ship towed away?
Complain to the angels
They’ve got all day
Surfing with the saints
On a sea of blue clouds
Hang ten until tomorrow
I hear you laughing out loud
I hear you laughing out loud
I hear you laughing now
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tommy Tsunami - a poem by Betty Johnson
memorial
Tom, you would have been so proud of your wonderful family and friends who were so touched
by your life. I have a feeling you were listening.
You were a lucky man to have so many love you so much!
Beth
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Post Memorial
Monday, April 19, 2010
another comment I didn't want buried
- from Mike Schindler
- mikess said...
- Aloha; I met thomas in 1959 when my family moved into the Burns Park neighborhood. My most cherished memories are my Burns Park years. There must have been a hundred kids per age during the sixties in Burns Park area. Thomas, Jay williams and Chris Edwards were the first "braddas" that I met. Almost instantly myself and my brother Steven became friends with Thomas, Willy and Chriswards along with Marc Ross, Brad Jones and a host of other boys our ages. Thomas was the "joker" always willing to instigate a good joke or rascally boy mischief. The weather balloon bomb was one of many rascally things we did. One summer day we ended up at the Wehrer`s house in Burns Park bored and looking for "action". I noticed a large lifeless balloon on the kitchen table. Thomas said it was a weather balloon. Our collective brains took about a half second to decide to fill that large balloon with water and drop it out Thomas`s third floor bedroom window. We went outside filled up the balloon to the size of a huge jello like watermelon. The four of us- Thomas, Willy my brother Steve and myself managed to pick the gargantuan water balloon up and looking like a huge sidewinder crab. Started the perilous ascent up to the third floor. At the third floor we decided to take a break and rest the balloonator on top of a banister. Immedietly we knew this was a bad idea. Because the balloon was so full it was like carrying a fifty pound jello balloon. The balloonator made a viscous roll over the banister and plummeted three floors down and exploded on the hardwood foyer floor. We look on in stunned silence as we watched about five gallons of water spill all over. Like an indoor tsunami.(what a beautiful site- sorry Joe, but is was cool) That instant Mr Wehrer came thru the doors to witness the devistation. (Joe you came within seconds of death by water balloon). Mr wehrer turned a beet red looked up at all of us and demanded that we come downstairs and explain what the heck we had done. Our feeble attempt fell on deaf ears as Mr. Wehrer told us to clean it up. So after we used every towel and fan in the house the tsunami was cleaned up. We all decided that our "work" was done for the day and went home. Another glorious day in Burns Park. I will always and forever remember Thomas as my friend, bradda and sometimes partner in rascally boy crimes. A Hui Hou Bradda Thomas Mike S Schindler whiskeymike25@hotmail.com
Tom's life in pictures
Go to: Tom's life in pictures
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Memorial Parking
Moire
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Moire and the Volcano
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Tom at the movies
Swimmers Itch
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sympathy for the Devil
Monday, April 12, 2010
Desert Island
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Another Wild Ride
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Pioneer Class of 1970
Friday, April 9, 2010
ROAD TRIPS
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Early Memories
Drive by visits
During the last couple of years of his life Tom began a study of Buddhism. This helped him. He became a much more thoughtful individual. It was so nice to see him striving for self-knowledge. He found comfort in his quest for knowledge. I think he felt like he had finally found people that had had thoughts that he hadn’t. He had a tremendous respect for the thoughts themselves and the individuals that had had them.
I work in Sausalito on the third floor of the building. Tom would drive up in front of my building, double park, and jump out of his car and yell “Lisa”. I’d open my sliding glass door and step out onto the balcony I’d arrange to meet him for a conversation at the park 2 blocks from my office. We would sit and discuss Buddhism interspersed with whatever rant he was fighting down that day. Self-knowledge doesn’t come overnight and he often had to rant about his life before he could gather himself and get back to topic. I will miss his drive by visits. Who would have ever guessed that Tom and I could have found such peace with one another?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
a few more comments I want to make sure people see
I am so very sad to hear of Thomas's demise. He and I had been trying to reconnect after many many years. He last called me from PHX on his way down to Mexico. I apologized for not hooking up with him when his son passed. He was so gracious and kind. He was totally excited about going South to surf. Thomas was the first guy of the Burns Park kids to do so many things, play drums, skateboard,take apart cars and motorcycles, drive cars and motorcycles, ski, listen to JimiHendrix. He was so freakin smart and charming it was scary. All the mom's always liked Thomas, he just had that killer smile and happy go lucky attitude with life. I remember being as his home around Xmas in 7th of 8th grade. He was wrapping a album cover as a present to give to one of his sisters. Of course he included a note saying that he was listening to the actual album..I think is was the Doors. Thomas athleticism could best be characterized a a Gumbylike ability to contort into or through any space. I also remember walking with Tom down Wells street on our way to Jay Williams house. Everytime we walked by the fence of one particular house we would try to walk the whole length of th top of the fence. He could always do it I struggled. On this particular occaision I fell and Tom laughing hystericaly told me I need to work on my STELLAR BALANCE. HE then proceeded to explain that we were all connected to all things in the universe. Therefore we only need to sense the connections and we would always be in balance. This was Back in 6th grade 1966? way way way before Carlos Castenatta. I can say with no hesitation that I loved that man as a brother from the first day I ever met him. Dola
From Janet Galardi Popper
A Tribute to the Man Who Turned Me on to Otis Redding
Thomas Wehrer
skinny boy
moving fast
sly eye smile
40 years or more since this crystal clear memory
Try a LIttle Tenderness
that's what you said
just try a little tenderness
xxooxx,
galardi
From Moire:
On our Honeymoon we stayed in a lovely little town in Ireland called Dingle in Co.kerry.We decided to go horse back riding.Tom seemed happy about doing this so off we went.We found a riding stable and picked out our horses.The guide was in front,Tom then me.I was looking around at the beautiful scenery then I noticed Toms riding skills.He was bouncing up and down so out of rythem to the horse.I called out to him and when he turned I saw the anguished look on his face.Well that was it for me I started to laugh and did'nt stop all through the rest of our trip. He was so sore.Everytime we came across horse stables we would laugh so hard.That day I did wet my pants laughing.
Tom droppings
Mexico Wrap up
On posting comments
Monday, April 5, 2010
Has anyone heard from...
As a young tgeenager and after he would sit on the arm of
grammy's chair and put his arm around her and rub her arm.
I don't remember any other grandchild doing that.
Hope all goes well at the memorial.
Who is out there?
Ann Arbor Friends
Mexico Day 3 part 6
I am glad we went back, because this man told how impressed he was with Tom. Tom had converted his skate board to a surf board trailer for his bike. The guy kept saying, "he had a good head, a good head" The school owner had it and he wanted to show us, but could not find it.
He did however, draw us this picture in the sand. May not sound or look like much here, but I will never forget it.-p
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Martha missing Tom
His passing is so huge in one way and in another, he had whittled away his life to a broken down car, a pawned surfboard and a motorized bike he had to pedal - like he reached his vanishing point. He did still have his enviable lust for life and adventure though, and I'm thankful that he was around as long as he was and that he was so happily pursuing his dream.
I'm loving the stories from everyone. One of the stories was the one about being somewhere he probably shouldn't have been, and being shot through the head (luckily a fairly small caliber bullet). He drove himself to the emergency room ( it was nearby) and shouted at the staff "Save me! I have kids" Somehow, the bullet caused no real damage but it set Tom on a course to change his life. He enrolled in San Francisco State University and finally finished his BA in some field like molecular biology - he was going to cure cancer. Then he went on for a double masters which I'm not sure if he finished but it turns out he wasn't much good at the corporate job world so he ended up being probably one of the ony drywall tapers or wall paper people or bus wrapping people with a BA in molecular biology.
He always had a better way of doing things - before setting out for Mexico, he tried to get a job as a farm worker, cutting cabbage. They wouldn't hire gringos and he figured it was for the best because he would have taught them a thing or two about picking cabbage.
Love that guy, miss him, can't believe there will be no more new Tom stories - please keep the old stories coming.
Martha
Life with Tom
We did three long road trips to Oklahoma together, and despite some friction, it will never be the same without him along, with his ready smile, his enthusiasm for trying everything and his generous giving heart.
I will miss you always, my brother, but your spirit always be there with me. There will never be another like you.
My cat Biscuit, who simply LOVED Tom, is literally standing on the keyboard as I write this, and purring up a storm, maybe he's saying his farewells with me.
Memorial Slide Show
Mexico Day 3 part 5
The third place we inquired we talked to this young man, who knew Tom. Tom had sold his board here to the Sayulita Surf School. He said he would be back to get it. I think he planned to fix his car, then get his next check and buy it back. Several of the young men who where doing flips came over and enthusiastically told us how happy he had been there.
The surf board rack with his board in it.
Tom's board will be surfing the waves in Sayulita without him.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
mexico Day 3 part 4
an email from Pat Oleszko
much love to you all
pat
Sly eyes and nice smile
Mexico Day 3 part 3
Friday, April 2, 2010
boogie boarding with David and Carla
Mexico Day 3 part 2
This is the DA I wish we had a picture that showed just how young he looked, in his ripped up jeans.
The contents of Tom's car had been moved to the DA's office. It made it a bit easier to go through. We brought back mainly books. He had framed pictures of David and David and Carla.