My uncle passed away at 7:15 this morning... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SwampYankee · #1 03-15-2010, 09:49 AM

at the Togus VA Hospital in Augusta, ME after a long battle with cancer. Thanks all for the thoughts and prayers. As hard as it was for the actual end to come, it was just awful seeing him wasting away. When he felt like applying it, he really did have a brilliant, engineering brain. The two ironic aspects of his deteriorating health were the fact that A) it wasn't Cirrhosis that finally took him down and B) his mind, which was definitely his strength, was so effected over the last several months.

He wanted his body donated to the University of New England for research purposes (he was very interested on the effects of aircraft carrier launches and landings on the body and ways those impacts might be controlled-everything else they find is a bonus

), which may have had something to do with his desire for no wake or funeral to slow that process down.

Some may argue which direction he's headed, not exactly a role model I'd want my kids to follow, but the scale was definitely weighted towards the good side and he was fiercely loyal to friends and family.

Per his Will, “My further wishes and directives are as follows: There is to be no funeral of any kind, nor the sending of flowers or cards. Instead use the money to have a beer for me. If you want closure – put the cap back on the beer bottle. This request shall be printed in all obituary notices.” Tonight I will do just that.

RIP, Tom. Hope you're flying again!
"Outa beer-gotta go"

strelnik · #2 03-15-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

at the Togus VA Hospital in Augusta, ME after a long battle with cancer. Thanks all for the thoughts and prayers. As hard as it was for the actual end to come, it was just awful seeing him wasting away. When he felt like applying it, he really did have a brilliant, engineering brain. The two ironic aspects of his deteriorating health were the fact that A) it wasn't Cirrhosis that finally took him down and B) his mind, which was definitely his strength, was so effected over the last several months.

He wanted his body donated to the University of New England for research purposes (he was very interested on the effects of aircraft carrier launches and landings on the body and ways those impacts might be controlled-everything else they find is a bonus

), which may have had something to do with his desire for no wake or funeral to slow that process down.

Some may argue which direction he's headed, not exactly a role model I'd want my kids to follow, but the scale was definitely weighted towards the good side and he was fiercely loyal to friends and family.

Per his Will, “My further wishes and directives are as follows: There is to be no funeral of any kind, nor the sending of flowers or cards. Instead use the money to have a beer for me. If you want closure – put the cap back on the beer bottle. This request shall be printed in all obituary notices.” Tonight I will do just that.

RIP, Tom. Hope you're flying again!
"Outa beer-gotta go"

Condolences to your family.
Actually, I think your comment was the best obituary -- the kind he would want.

ramonajim · #3 03-15-2010, 10:25 AM

Thoughts to you and yours Swamp - from a place of understanding I didn't know a year ago.

Txjake · #4 03-15-2010, 10:29 AM

condolences. I like his request....

Dee8go · #5 03-15-2010, 10:35 AM

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, Swamp. My condlences to you and your family.

raymr · #6 03-15-2010, 10:42 AM

I know the pain all too well. At least his suffering is over, and hopefully you can hold on to those happy and fond memories.

DeliveryValve · #7 03-15-2010, 11:07 AM

My Condolences to you and your family.

He Sounds like he was a good man. I'll have a beer and put the cap on for both of ya.

.

LUVMBDiesels · #8 03-15-2010, 11:50 AM

Sorry for your loss...

Just remember his pain is done ad he is one with the universe now - What a trip for an aviator!

dynalow · #9 03-15-2010, 12:55 PM

Naval Avaitors. A breed apart.

Navy Hymn (Avaitor's verse)

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces of the sky.
Be with the travelers in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!

Aloft in solitudes of space,
Uphold them with Thy saving grace.
Thou Who supports with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight.
Lord, if the tempered winds be near,
That, having Thee, they know no fear.

My condolences.

SwampYankee · #10 03-15-2010, 01:57 PM

Thanks, all. I'm really trying to get the last vision of the strong, healthy Tom in my head rather than the last, frail one. It's funny to think of a 5'4" 170 lb. guy as strong and commanding, especially for me at 6'3" 240+, but he really was.

Just to give a little insight on the way his brain worked, here's an article from the Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME) that was picked up by the AP several years ago.

Intentionally left out of the article was the part about building it to elude the marine conservation officer while on his way back from the bar on the other side of the lake.