I first met Tom at the freshman talent show at the end of orientation week at Carthage College in 1965. Then we were seated near one and other in the band/orchestra, Tom with his oboe and me with my bassoon. Then sometime during our first semester he started joining my roommate Bob, a new friend (french hornist) Allen and me for pizza and playing pinochle. Tom was my roommate for our sophomore year. The first Saturday morning his alarm clock went off way too early. He told me he always mopped the floor on Saturday morning. Well I put a stop to that right away. Tom and I both got drafted in 1969 and we both ended up in Vietnam. He was stationed at Long Binh and I was in Saigon. I was able to call him a few times and then he found out he could ride to Saigon with the courier going to the airport. So, he did get to visit me a few times. After the army and graduate school we just remained close friends. He was the best man at our wedding. I think we probably were able to get together at least once a year. My wife and I had planned to go over to Fort Wayne in April to help him celebrate his birthday. I am so happy that we were able to meet and become great friends. He will really be missed.